A review of Britain's energy policies was announced by Tony
Blair last month and a report is expected in the summer. Sir
David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, told the
Commons environmental audit committee last month: "I do not
think that any government could proceed with nuclear new build
if there was a sense in which this was unacceptable to the
public. Taking the public along is absolutely essential."
The poll reveals sharp gender differences: 57% of men but
only 33% of women supported building new nuclear power stations;
57% of women and 39% of men were against. For the over 65s 47%
approved (39% against) compared with 42% of the 18-24s (57%
against). Conservative voters were most likely to be pro-nuclear
(56% for and 38% against), with 49% of Labour supporters (48%
against), and 41% of Liberal Democrat voters - despite their
party's anti-nuclear policy.
The review must tackle how Britain should fill a so-called
"energy gap" caused by the closure of existing atomic power
plants. Half are due to be decommissioned by 2010 and all but
Sizewell B in Suffolk by 2023. Nuclear supporters say renewable
energy sources cannot plug this gap and reactors do not produce
greenhouse gases. Opponents say nuclear power is expensive,
disposal of radioactive waste remains unresolved, and that
significant carbon dioxide emissions are produced in the
building and mining of uranium fuel.
The government's decision to look again at nuclear energy
marks a shift in position from that outlined in a white paper
two years ago, which said: "Current economics make it an
unattractive option for new, carbon-free generating capacity and
there are also important issues of nuclear waste to be
resolved." Ministers have since come under pressure to rethink
amid concerns about global warming, security of UK energy
supplies as North Sea output declines, and rising fuel prices.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,004 adults aged 18-plus
by telephone between 15 and 18 December 2005. Interviews were
conducted across the country and the results have been weighted
to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British
Polling Council and abides by its rules.