TRADE union leaders wrote to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today, urgently seeking an end to the delay in funding for a signed-off nuclear power plant station.

The letter, signed by TUC deputy general secretary Paul Nowak, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, GMB general secretary Gary Smith and Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy, expressed concern that time was running out for the government to make its own commitment to funding the project at Sizewell C in Suffolk.

It warned that the government’s proposed funding model, the Regulated Asset Base model (RAB), will only be effective once a Government Investment Decision (GID) is confirmed.

The letter said: “We sincerely believe that unless this matter is resolved in the next few weeks, Britain’s nuclear future and the jobs and skills of tens of thousands of nuclear workers will be at risk.”

Despite repeated commitments from the government for new nuclear as a long-term solution to the ongoing energy price crisis, so far firm action has been lacking, the unions said.

Mr Smith said: “There can be no net zero without new nuclear, so why does this government keep dithering on the big decisions to secure our clean energy future?

“Their indecision is putting the vital new Sizewell reactor at risk.”

He said that the project was “beginning to look like another in a long line of government failures,” saying: “From offshoring green jobs to closing our domestic gas storage — each contributing to the chaotic situation that exists in the British energy sector.

“It’s time for real action on new nuclear. Our energy future is too important to become victim to another Boris promise — here today, gone tomorrow.”

Ms Graham said: “We have all heard [the government] ‘talk the talk,’ now they need to ‘walk the walk’ and get a move on with Sizewell C.

“The workers are committed to making this facility a success.

“If the project is put in danger, then the blame will lie firmly with the government.

“Let’s be clear, every day of delay puts energy jobs at risk and hampers the nation’s progress to a mixed energy model.

“The government needs to get its act together and move this build forward, now.”