John Whittingdale 'positive' about future of Bradwell B

John Whittingdale, Conservative MP for Maldon, has spoken in favour of Bradwell B, a new nuclear power station proposed to be built in Bradwell-on-Sea.

Mr Whittingdale told parliament last week he "remains a strong supporter of nuclear power".

The Bradwell B nuclear power station is a joint project by China General Nuclear (CGN) and EDF to replace the former Bradwell A nuclear power station was decommissioned in 2002.

• China's nuclear power firm may be blocked from Bradwell B project

A Whitehall source confirmed a report by the Financial Times last year that the Government is seeking to remove CGN from future projects in the UK - a move which would exclude CGN from its Bradwell B project.

The Tory MP acknowledged the potential removal of China's state-owned energy company from Bradwell B amid security concerns when he spoke in the House of Commons on Monday, January 10.

Mr Whittingdale said: "If the Government decides it is not appropriate for a Chinese reactor to be built, I would still like to think that Bradwell would be a possible site for an alternative development of a nuclear power station."

• ‘Change in climate is new nuclear site’s biggest issue’

Mr Whittingdale has said he is “still positive about the possibility of Bradwell being the site for Bradwell B, whoever designs and owns it”.

He added: “Whether or not the Government reach that decision about China, I think it is too early to say, and I am sure the minister will not be in a position to say definitively this afternoon, but I would like to put on record that Bradwell has hosted a nuclear power station very successfully for 40 years, Bradwell A, and that in general I saw from that the benefits it can bring to the local community.”

• Boris Johnson quizzed over future of Bradwell B nuclear plant in Essex

His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs he doesn't want to "pitchfork away" all investment from China when asked about the future of Bradwell B.

Mr Johnson said the Government does not "want to see undue influence by potentially adversarial countries in our critical national infrastructure" and that more information on Bradwell B would be “forthcoming”.