The government has tried since 1997 not to mention the words Energy Policy. Firstly it is a bit of a voter turn off and secondly they don't have one. However, with petrol prices rising, carbon emissions contributing to energy price increases at home, and growing disillusionment with wind farms in peoples back yard, the ostrich approach will no longer apply. The Conservatives have pressed for a debate at the very least though they themselves recognise that coming out as strong advocates of Nuclear is not going to win huge votes. Likewise their captive natural voter in the farms and countryside is equally unlikely to come out in favour of wind farms. The short answer is that a ful debate is required with full costings of the nuclear option and a long term view to the UKs ability to sustain Kyoto protocol beyond 2012. Everyone wants a technological solution to burning hydrocarbons and whilst nuclear is the natural successor it needs to be able to meet peak flows of demand and this at the moment can only be matched by coal and gas plant. Let the debates begin.