Green Party ends blanket opposition to nuclear power
A conference vote allows case-by-case assessment of new reactors while keeping wind and rooftop solar as the party’s priorities.
The Green Party of England and Wales has ended its blanket opposition to nuclear fission, voting at conference to assess projects alongside other low-carbon technologies. The change removes the party’s commitment to phase out nuclear power.
The policy continues to prioritise offshore and onshore wind, and rooftop solar, as primary sources of electricity. It allows elected representatives to consider new reactors individually; it does not commit the party to supporting any proposal.
Green MP Carla Denyer said the shift recognised a possible role for nuclear during a transition to an electricity system based primarily on renewables. She favours keeping existing plants operating while assessing proposals for new reactors carefully.
The party’s previous opposition to nuclear fission was rooted in its stance against nuclear weapons. Supporter Eugene McCarthy said the climate crisis called for considering available options, while energy policy adviser Andrew Stirling criticised the change and argued that renewables and storage offer faster and more affordable climate action.
Whether the new policy will lead the party to support any specific reactor remains undecided. The conference report provided no vote count or detail on how the case-by-case approach will be applied.
