Manchester Nuclear Opposition Underlined Following Lib Dem Council Motion

12.00.00am GMT Wed 30th Jan 2008

Manchester Says "No" to Nuclear Following Lib Dem Council Motion

Manchester City Council has re-affirmed its historic opposition to nuclear weapons and nuclear power, following a Lib Dem motion moved at January's Council meeting.

After a debate on a motion proposed by Lib Dem Councillor Marc Ramsbottom, Manchester's Councillors unanimously agreed:

"To reaffirm this Council's commitment to oppose the development and expansion of nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

To request that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform setting out this Council's opposition to these plans."

Councillor Ramsbottom said:

"Nuclear weapons and nuclear power are as controversial as ever. It is only right that Manchester City Council should take this opportunity to underline our historic opposition to nuclear weapons and nuclear power."

He concluded:

"Although the Labour group chose to amend part of our motion, they nevertheless joined forces with Lib Dem Councillors to show once again that the people of Manchester are totally opposed to further development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons."

End

Text of a Motion made and seconded by the Lib Dem Group at the January 30th 2008 Manchester City Council meeting:

This Council notes:

1. The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has announced plans designed to entice the nuclear industry to invest in a new generation of 10 nuclear power stations in Britain.

2. That Manchester was designated the first nuclear free city in November 1980 with a commitment to prevent the retention and proliferation of nuclear weapons and the safe phase-out of nuclear power in the shortest practicable time.

This Council believes:

1. There is a real risk that focusing on new nuclear plants will undermine attempts to find a safer, cleaner, more sustainable and secure solution to our energy needs.

2. We should be concentrating our efforts by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

3. That putting pressure on foreign powers to limit their own nuclear programmes and halt nuclear weapons proliferation becomes much easier when we have demonstrated that civil nuclear power is not needed in the UK.

This Council resolves:

1. To reaffirm this Council's commitment to oppose the development and expansion of nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

2. To request that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform setting out this Council's opposition to these plans.

3. To request a report from the Chief Executive on how the Council may coordinate a national campaign with the UK's 75 other nuclear free cities to oppose the Government's plans to expand nuclear power.