Theresa May slams brakes on plans for Hinkley Point C £18billion nuclear power plant

THERESA May slammed the brakes on plans to build Britain’s first nuclear power plant in a generation in a dramatic move tonight.

The Government launched a review of the £18bn project at the eleventh hour.

Ministers announced the audit of Hinkley Point C in Somerset almost immediately after French energy bosses gave the project the go ahead in Paris.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said the PM and ministers in her new Cabinet needed time to examine the plans.

He said: “The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the Government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix.

“The Government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.”

Shocked local Tory MP Ian Liddell-Grainger admitted last night: "We probably should have guessed it.

“Theresa has her own mind. She checks everything and she wants to make sure this is right.

"We are talking about three countries – we are talking about an enormous deal for France, the UK and for China and she wants to make sure it's the right job and she is checking it like all prime ministers should."

Bosses of French energy firm EDF had earlier voted in favour of Hinkley Point C at a testy board meeting, which saw one director quit over financially “very risky” plans.

It was reported EDF boss Vincent de Rivaz had called off a trip to Britain following the announcement.

The French firm had hoped to have more than 2,500 workers on site by next year.

The £18billion Somerset plant would create around 25,000 jobs — but put at least £10 a year on bills.

It will take until at least 2025 to build and eventually provide seven per cent of Britain’s electricity.

In a statement EDF called the plant “a unique asset for French and British industries”.

The meeting of EDF in Paris followed lengthy talks with unions, who warned the costs could cripple the company.

It is 85 per cent owned by the French government, which was forced to bail them out of bankruptcy this year.

Critics say consumers will have to pay for the project and warned over the involvement of the China General Nuclear Power Corporation, which is expected to have a stake of more than a third.

Theresa May's joint chief of staff and policy guru Nick Timothy has previously expressed misgivings over the involvement of the Chinese state nuclear firms.

Fresh criticism is also expected of the Government’s promise to pay EDF £92.50 per megawatt hour of energy — more than twice existing wholesale electricity prices.

The National Audit Office said taxpayers could be left with a £30billion bill.