or clip of Prime Minister Boris Johnson talking about the potential savings from buying a new boiler has gone viral on social media.
In the clip, Mr Johnson says: “If you have an old boiler that takes too long to boil, it could cost you £20 to replace it, but if you get a new one, you’ll save £10 a year for each year of electricity bill”.
The comment, which was made during a speech at Sizewell Nuclear Center in Suffolk on Thursday, August 1, was shared widely on Twitter and Facebook, as well as some media outlets, with many claiming Mr Johnson was offering advice on how to save money in light of rising energy bills.
However, the clip was taken out of the context of Mr Johnson’s wider speech, in which the prime minister backed greater investment in nuclear power.
Just before the part of his speech that went viral, he said: “Nuclear [energy] when you start, it always seems relatively expensive to build and run, but… it’s certainly cheap compared to hydrocarbons today.
“In fact, if Hinkley Point C were already operational this year … it would cut fuel bills by £3 billion … so you have to look ahead and be aware of the false economy.”
In this context, it seems that Mr Johnson was trying to make an analogy by comparing the long-term savings generated by nuclear power with the savings of buying a more efficient boiler. The number 10 confirmed that it was an analogy to emphasize that the initial investment pays off with more savings in the long run.
However, in the past 24 hours, the out-of-context clip has received millions of views and shares, including from Labour’s shadow cabinet ministers. Wes Streeting AND David Lammythe latter criticized the prime minister as “out of touch”, without mentioning the wider context of his comments.
The figure cited by Mr Johnson for cutting fuel bills by £3bn is significantly higher than the £1bn EDF Energy – the project’s main owner – previously said in June that the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station would save on fuel of the client. receipts if functional.
However, EDF confirmed that this is correct and could rise to £4 billion if market prices remain at exceptional levels.
According to a project update published in May 2022, construction of Hinkley Point C is estimated to cost between £25-26 billion, with recent delays resulting in an additional £3 billion cost. The new station is now expected to start producing electricity in 2027.
A government spokesman said of the revised forecast in May: “While the Covid pandemic has understandably led to delays, the revised Hinkley Point C construction forecast will have no impact on British billers or taxpayers, with any increase in costs borne entirely by developers. “
Image courtesy of Number 10
