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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Owen Hughes

Boris Johnson 'fervent supporter' of nuclear future on Anglesey

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared himself a "fervent supporter" of a nuclear future on Anglesey.

The £16bn Wylfa Newydd scheme is currently in limbo after Japanese backers Hitachi withdrew from the project in September.

But talks have started with other interested parties and the Development Consent Order (DCO) was put back to December 31 so these discussions could continue.

It is understood US nuclear giant Westinghouse is among those interested in the site near Cemaes.

Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn, this week pressed the Prime Minister to support the project.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, she said: "My constituency of Ynys Môn has the best nuclear site in the UK.

"Will the Prime Minister confirm to me and the people of Ynys Môn that he is 100% behind Wylfa Newydd?"

In his response, the Prime Minister said: “Yes, indeed. I congratulate my Honourable Friend on her fantastic campaigning for a nuclear future for Ynys Môn.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a statement in the House of Commons in London (PA)

"She has no more fervent supporter in that objective than me.”

Following Hitachi’s withdrawal, Ms Crosbie said she fought for Horizon Nuclear Power to be given more time to explore other alternatives for the site.

In recent weeks she has held talks to discuss the future of Wylfa with Ministers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy including Alok Sharma MP, Kwasi Kwarteng MP and Nadhim Zahawi MP.

She believes backing for the project would fit with the UK Government’s levelling-up agenda and its aim to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

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