
UK selects Rolls-Royce SMR to build small nuclear modular reactors
Successive British governments have championed SMRs - effectively small-scale nuclear plants - as a way of avoiding the high upfront costs, planning delays and difficulties of securing investment for traditional nuclear power stations.
The government on Tuesday pledged over 2.5 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) for the small modular reactor programme.
Rolls-Royce SMR will enter a strategic development partnership with state-owned Great British Energy - Nuclear following approvals by regulators, it said.
Rolls-Royce SMR was named as preferred bidder following a two-year competition with a multi-billion-pound technology contract likely to follow.
The company is majority owned by Rolls-Royce, the FTSE 100 engineer which makes the systems which power Britain's fleet of nuclear submarines.
($1 = 0.7396 pounds)
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Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour drops plans to restrict LTNs in ‘secret war on motorists'
Labour has renewed its ' war on motorists ' by dropping plans to limit new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones. Ministers have quietly ditched reforms that would have curbed council powers to restrict traffic and levy 'unfair' fines and parking charges. The Conservatives, which drew up the changes, branded the move 'a kick in the teeth to motorists' and warned it would hit struggling high streets. But Labour ministers dismissed the proposals as 'speculative suggestions' and said they 'would have made no positive difference for drivers'. Sir Keir Starmer has been repeatedly accused of pursuing heavy-handed policies against motorists, most notably in London and Wales. In the latest example, Labour-run Southwark council on Sunday was forced to admit it illegally fined thousands of people for driving in bus lanes. Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said scrapping the Tory plans represented a 'secret war on drivers' that was not in Labour's manifesto. 'Labour has been caught red handed as it steps up its targeted war on motorists,' he said. 'Conservatives led the charge against unfair and over-zealous enforcement but our work has been ripped up in underhand attacks without any public consultation or manifesto pledge. 'This is a kick in the teeth to motorists, set to punish beleaguered local high streets and will slam the brakes on the economy even more than Rachel Reeves has done so far.' Rishi Sunak announced a 'Plan for Drivers' in October 2023, which would have made it harder for local councils to introduce anti-car schemes. It included draft guidance on the introduction of LTNs, which would have forced councils to focus more on the views of local residents and businesses. As a 'minimum' authorities would have had to hold a series of public meetings with residents and to leaflet every household in the affected area. The changes were planned over concerns councils have been railroading through LTNs on the back of support by green and pro-cycling groups. Ministers have now confirmed that the draft guidance, which was not formalised in time for last year's general election, has been effectively shelved. Lilian Greenwood, the roads minister, said that as a result, work had been 'put on hold and the Government is now considering appropriate next steps'. 'As has always been the case, local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities,' she said. Lord Hendy, a transport minister, also suggested that the Government does not plan to change the current guidance in force on LTNs. 'Traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best,' he said. The last Tory government had planned a series of pro-driver reforms, including new guidance to 'prevent inappropriate blanket use of 20mph zones'. The Tories sought to roll out more pro-driver policies in the wake of the Labour administration in Wales controversially enforcing a default 20mph zone across all formerly 30mph areas in 2023. Following a huge outcry the Senedd is now reviewing the policy, with the architect of the scheme admitting 'more common sense' should have been deployed. Ms Greenwood said the Government has 'no current plans' to review the guidance around the setting of 20mph speed limits in England. 'We believe that traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible, and that consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process,' she added. Other planned Tory measures that would have limited the use of '15-minute cities' have also been ditched. Under those measures, Conservative ministers would have revoked council's access to DVLA data, which they use to enforce traffic filters. The 15-minute city concept were designed so residents could access all basic services within a quarter of an hour walk or bike ride from home. It has become controversial with some on the Right who see the car as pivotal to freedom and attempts to curb driving as the spread of state control. 'No positive difference' Mr Sunak also pledged to reduce 'unfair' traffic fines, such as yellow box penalties, including by restricting councils' ability to raise revenue from them. Under the measures new guidance would have been brought forward giving residents the formal right to challenge their council's parking policies. Labour ministers confirmed that all three proposals had been dropped. 'Those policies in 'The Plan for Drivers' that would have made no positive difference for drivers have been discontinued,' Ms Greenwood said. Mr Holden said that Sir Sadiq Khan would be 'licking his lips now he has been given the green light to hammer drivers even more'. The Mayor of London has overseen a rapid expansion of LTNs in the capital and the introduction of blanket 20mph limits across the city. The Department for Transport was approached for comment.


Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Eberechi Eze ‘to sit out Crystal Palace match' as Spurs move edges closer
Crystal Palace and England international Eberechi Eze is closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur. According to reports on Saturday, Eze is said to have reached an agreement with Palace that he will not play for them at Chelsea on Sunday. Eze's release clause of £67.5million expired on Friday, but Palace are believed to want a similar fee, with a large chunk paid up front, to persuade them to sell. Eze was a crucial player as Palace won the FA Cup last season and also featured in the club's Community Shield victory over Liverpool last weekend. EZE GIVES CRYSTAL PALACE THE LEAD 😤 A dream goal for @CPFC 🌟 #ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup — ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025 The 27-year-old, who has long been linked with a move across London, joined Palace in 2020 from QPR and has gone on to win 11 England caps. Thomas Frank, the new Spurs head coach, is in need of creativity after chief playmaker James Maddison recently ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Fellow midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is also still sidelined with a knee injury. After a failed pursuit of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White last month, Spurs have this week ramped up their transfer activity, opening talks with Manchester City on Monday over the signing of versatile attacker Savinho and are now in discussions with Palace over Eze. Speaking after Tottenham's 3-0 win over Burnley in their Premier League opener, Frank said: 'We are definitely in the market. I said it before, Daniel [Levy, the chairman] and Johan [Lange, technical director] and Vinai [Venkatesham, chief executive] are working relentlessly to try to do their best to improve the squad, but we only want to improve the squad if we can get players in that can improve the squad. I want to keep it like it is.' Asked about Eze specifically, Frank added: 'I have that nice principle that I would like to speak about the players that are in-house, and all the other speculations I don't want to speak too much about that.'


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bruno Fernandes makes transfer admission after turning down move to Saudi Arabia and opting to stay at Man United
Bruno Fernandes has made an admission regarding the transfer speculation that surrounded his future earlier this summer before he opted to committ his future to Manchester United. Fernandes, 30, was subject to an enormous £200million bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal - who were prepared to offer the Portuguese midfielder a tax-free contract in the region of £700,000-a-week plus bonuses. Now, he has made a frank statement about why decided to stay in Manchester despite the offer of a more lucrative move elsewhere. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: 'I haven't fulfilled my dreams here yet. 'I think I can still give something to the club. I think I'm still in a position where I'm helpful so the thing for me is that I will be here until the club decides that ''Bruno, it's time to go''. 'Obviously, I know it was tough on the club to decide that because it was a big amount of money that the club hasn't got probably since Cristiano [Ronaldo] left, he was the last one where they got so much money for a player. Al-Hilal were prepared to meet any financial demand that Fernandes wanted but his desire to stay at the highest level overruled all. 'It was a very ambitious proposal,' he added. 'The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course. 'Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot. 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship. 'But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.' Fernandes will look to get things off to a winning start for United on Sunday, when they welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford in their Premier League opener. The Red Devils have been boosted in attack by the arrivals of both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They have also been linked with Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as Ruben Amorim looks to add further reinforcements before the window shuts on September 1. .