GMB warns over potential nuclear plant Budget cuts

A union has warned the chancellor against making cuts at the Sellafield nuclear site ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

The GMB sent a letter to Rachel Reeves which argued any potential cuts to the country's nuclear estate would result in fewer resources for "maintenance, monitoring and emergency preparedness" at Sellafield in Cumbria, increasing the risk of a "serious incident".

A spokesperson for Sellafield and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said it was "engaging closely" with the Treasury.

The government said it would continue to the support the NDA in its mission to manage the UK's "nuclear legacy and clean-up sites safely".

Last week, the spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, said the site was not "value for money" and it had spent £1.9bn more than in earned in 2023-2024.

About 11,500 people work at the Sellafield site.

In its letter, the GMB said any cuts would reduce the number of staff available to "carry out critical safety-related tasks".

It also said reductions in new technologies and infrastructure at the plant may slow down the removal of "legacy waste".

Sellafield said it was working to "further improve safety performance".

The GMB said "a safety incident at Sellafield could have devastating consequences", adding: "The economic damage of such an event would be incalculable."

"The potential risks of reduced safety standards far outweigh any short-term financial savings from funding cuts," it said.

The Sellafield and NDA spokesperson said it would always prioritise the "safety and security of our employees, sites and communities while delivering our nationally important mission".

Reeves previously warned the Budget, Labour's first for 14 years, would involve "difficult decisions" and government sources have told the BBC it could involve tax rises and spending cuts to the value of £40bn.

Ahead of the election, Labour said it would end a "decade of dithering" that saw the Conservatives "duck decisions on nuclear power", and it "will ensure the long-term security of the sector, extending the lifetime of existing plants".

A government spokesperson said: "We are committed to the nuclear sector and will continue to support the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in its important mission to manage our nuclear legacy and clean-up sites safely."

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