Brits must try to look on the bright side of Hinkley Point nuclear deal now that Theresa May has given it the go ahead
We must ignore the security issues, the massive delays and the extra costs... or we could just get cracking with fracking
THE Hinkley Point nuclear deal is a dismal one for Britain. But it’s done now.
So, like Theresa May, we might as well look on the bright side. For once, Britain has actually given a major infrastructure project the go-ahead.
And having been so scandalously slow to exploit shale’s potential, we do need something else to keep the lights on.
So let’s leave aside that it’s going to take French and Chinese money to build Hinkley, with obvious security implications in the latter case.
Leave aside the extortionate subsidy to be slapped on every power bill for a generation — a “cash machine” for EDF, in the words of one industry expert.
Leave aside the years it will take and the fact it’ll be nearly a decade late.
Forget that its unproven technology is causing massive delays and extra costs abroad where it is also being used.
Forget that smaller, cheaper, more productive gas-fired plants would be better. And that we are closing viable coal ones to comply with EU climate diktats
Aside from that, Hinkley’s a terrific idea (that’s if nothing else goes wrong — a big if). Locals will like the jobs, British firms the new business.
Now, Theresa . . . get cracking with fracking. And a new airport runway or two.
UK's on a roll
DID Honda not get the memo when Japan warned Britain its firms could move out unless we stay in the single market?
The car giant intends to transform its Swindon plant into “a global production hub” making 160,000 Civics a year and exporting 40 per cent of them to the US for the first time.
This was its plan before the Brexit vote “and remains the plan after the Brexit vote. No change.”
Which is a £200million vote of confidence in our prospects outside the EU.
And it sounds remarkably similar to the sunny optimism of Brits . . . except those Remainers still weeping bitter tears and longing to be proved “right”.
To their dismay, shop sales held up well in August — like almost every other recent financial indicator.
Deadly habit
USING a mobile behind the wheel is as potentially lethal as drink-driving.
One distracting call or text and you could destroy families, yours included.
The RAC says it’s now at “epidemic” levels. Too many of us are barely even aware it’s wrong.
We know how tempting it is . . . but it has to end.
Plans to increase fines slightly and slap another point on a licence are feeble. That’s no extra deterrent.
An automatic road ban, as with drink-driving, is.
The Sun rarely backs bigger motoring penalties. On this we make an exception.