Greens Target 'Toxic Tony' Over N-Power

May 05 - Western Mail

Greens yesterday pledged to 'fight all the way' any moves by a future Labour government to boost nuclear power. Darren Johnson, London Assembly Member and parliamentary candidate for Lewisham Deptford was telling anti-nuclear voters, 'Don't vote for Toxic Tony'.

He said leaks from the Government suggested that if people vote Labour they will be unwittingly voting for a nuclear future.

'Nuclear energy is costly, dangerous and utterly wrong for providing for our energy needs.

'Labour should be controlling their soaring CO2 emissions by implementing a joined strategy of pollution reducing policies and renewable energy investment rather than the unholy nuclear alternative.'

Mr Johnson said the row over nuclear was the catalyst for the Green Movement and galvanised its membership in the late 1970s and in the 1980s.

But moves by a future Labour government to back nuclear power 'would be an absolutely massive focus and the last thing we would want to do is do more nuclear'.

He added, 'We would fight it all the way and if that means working with pressure groups such as Greenpeace and anti-nuclear campaigners then so be it, but we need to stop it.

'There are serious grounds for worry. If you look at the amount of lobbying that's going on by the nuclear industry. You look at the pro-nuclear figures close to New Labour and all the signs are that they are seriously considering a return to new nuclear.

'Because they have completely failed to get to grips with climate change I think they are looking at desperate measures now and this would be a desperate measure.

'We still don't know what to do with nuclear waste and nuclear reactors have a lifespan of producing electricity for 30 and 40 years and yet leave waste around for thousands and thousands of years to come,' Mr Johnson told supporters in Westminster Green

'There is serious cause for concern. The Government has had the chance over the last eight years, once and for all to rule out the nuclear option, like the German government have done and say there are never going to be any new nuclear power stations in this country and we are introducing a timetable to phase them out.

'That is what the German government did, with Greens participating. We have had ambiguity and constant reviews from this Government but they have refused to rule out the nuclear option and the signs are that they are now looking at it.'