Boris Johnson tells next PM to 'go nuclear' as he pledges £700m for Sizewell C

Boris Johnson has blamed the Labor Party and former Lib-Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg for energy policy failures - although the Tories have been in power for 12 years

Boris Johnson has torn his political opponents over nuclear power (

Image: Sky News)

Boris Johnson gave the green light to a new nuclear reactor by accusing the last Labor government of "myopia" on energy policy.

Mr. Johnson pledged £700million for the Sizewell C nuclear power station project in Suffolk in his last major political speech as Prime Minister and said he was "absolutely confident the project would break through the envelope".

In a message to the successor, he said, "Go nuclear, go big, go Sizewell C."

The outgoing Prime Minister denounced the "crisis of British nuclear energy" and blamed the last Labor government, despite the Conservatives having been in power for 12 years.

Calling the problem "myopia", he said, "It's called short-termism. It's a chronic case of politicians not being able to see beyond the political cycle."

Computer generated images of Sizewell C (

Picture:

Handout)

He compared the UK to France and other countries: "Why haven't we ever found that kind of rhythm again?"

Mr. Johnson told an audience at Sizewell: "For 13 years the previous Labor Government did absolutely nothing to develop the nuclear industry of this country. They said it made no economic sense. ."

"Thank you very much Tony. Thank you very much Gordon. Tell that to UK businesses and industries desperately short of affordable and reliable energy."

He also blamed former Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg — whom he mocked as a "California tech lobbyist — for resisting approval of new nuclear reactors.

Mr. Johnson said there had been a "crisis in British nuclear power", blaming successive governments for failing to invest in new reactors.

"Yes, nuclear still looks - when you start - it still looks relatively expensive to build and run," he said.