New nuclear row as green groups pull out

In a consultative democracy it's the people who frame the questions who hold the power. And that issue seems to be at the heart of a report that could herald the formal withdrawal of a green coalition from UK gov's consultation on nuclear power. The report "accuses the government of 'conducting a public relations stitch-up designed to deliver a preordained policy on new nuclear power' and 'rushing' a consultation process that its advisers say should take at least nine months. 'The new consultation is no different from the government's previous attempt at a nuclear consultation,' it says. 'It skirts over the many negative aspects of nuclear power, such as its enormous cost, what to do with all the radioactive waste new build will create, and how little nuclear power will do to help cut carbon emissions and guarantee energy security.' The document continues: 'It has become clear that the government has already made up its mind ... and that this new consultation is nothing more than an expensive sham.'"
Of course the difficulty is that it could simply be written off as a fit of pique at not getting their own way: however, we should note that this is about feeling they have been heard and that their position is articulated fairly. It's a fundamental rule of mediation and conciliation that each side is 'heard'. And at this point the purpose of the consultation is surely to let the arguments be heard properly and that means that each side should feel that they have been represented fairly.
New nuclear row as green groups pull out | Environment | The Guardian