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Cable: May Had Hinkley Concerns As Home Sec

Theresa May had concerns about the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant deal during the coalition government, according to Sir Vince Cable.

The Lib Dem former business secretary told Sky News that Mrs May as home secretary was "anxious" about having Chinese involvement in the £18bn project.

The ex-cabinet member was speaking after the Prime Minister unexpectedly delayed signing-off on the project at the last minute on Thursday.

It is thought there are security concerns about the role of the Chinese state - which has a one third share in the project - investing in critical infrastructure in the UK.

There has also been criticism about the amount of money French energy giant EDF will be paid for generating power from Hinkley - £92.50 per megawatt hour of electricity generated.

Sir Vince said: "Throughout the coalition government she had concerns about foreign investment that encroached on what she regarded as national security.

"This was an issue that was raised in general but also raised specifically in relation to Hinkley. Most of us who looked at this came to the conclusion that the Chinese are good investors and their role in this project is not operational.

"But it was understandable that the home secretary would raise those questions and it's played into the wider doubts about the project that have come in, about the technology, the cost... and I understand why she wants to have a proper look at this again."

He said Britain was "uniquely open to Chinese investment" in a policy driven by former chancellor George Osborne.

Sir Vince cautioned: "Most Western countries, certainly the Americans, took a much more sceptical geopolitical view, and were worried if you get very closely involved with a government with a very different ideology, this potentially gives you serious problems down the road."

He added: "I personally took the view that we should stick and work with the Chinese, that they are good investors."

But he pointed out Mrs May "was certainly anxious about it and I think that is probably one of the main reasons why this has been reopened".

And Sir Vince said the then home secretary was unhappy about the "gung-ho" attitude to Chinese investment displayed by Mr Osborne.

The claims came as the boss of EDF said he understands the Government wanting more time to consider plans for a new nuclear power station.

Vincent de Rivaz has written to workers in an attempt to reassure them the Hinkley Point project in Somerset is still "strong" despite the unexpected delay.

The company's board narrowly voted to give the final go-ahead for the long-delayed project but the Government pulled back from signing the contract saying it would make a decision in the early autumn.

Sky's Political Correspondent Tamara Cohen said: "Number 10 sources tell me this is very much a delay rather than a u-turn."