The truly lasting nuclear legacy of Tony Blair's premiership
May 20, 2006 11:00 PM
By Philip C James in As sent to the Bristol Evening Post
By Philip C James in As sent to the Bristol Evening Post
Sir, in the Prime Minister's own words, "nuclear power is back with a vengeance". Talk of revenge is not the best way to reassure the public that a massive increase in nuclear power is the only or the best way to counter global warming and ensure security of energy supply.
Blair asked us to trust him over Iraq. He had seen the evidence we may not see. He was absolutely convinced we must invade to remove the threat of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. It turned out there were no WMD. There was no imminent threat to our security. And, as Blair was warned, we are now less safe, not more secure, from the threat of international terrorism.
Now the PM has seen the 'first cut' of his government's energy review. We have not, but we are to trust him again; he is absolutely convinced we will need more nuclear power.
Will Iraq and Blair's abuse of trust over the invasion be the lasting legacy of his premiership? Not if we misplace our trust in Mr Blair again.
If we do, his truly lasting legacy could well be mountains of radioactive waste remaining hazardous for millennia; nuclear accident sites that remain off limits for centuries, and civil liberties eroded as a counter to the constant threat of nuclear terrorism made possible by an economy based on plutonium.
There are alternatives to this dark future. Join the Liberal Democrats in encouraging Tony Blair to open his eyes and embrace them.
Yours faithfully
Philip C James
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