MPs slam Sizewell C's "terrible deal"

Posted: 30th October 2026

28 October 2026



MPs slam Sizewell C’s “terrible deal”
Months after its parliamentary hearing in June, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a damning report on Sizewell C which endorses many of our concerns.

For headline findings see the image. In addition to highlighting the risks and costs to taxpayers compared to the guaranteed returns investors will receive, the PAC emphasised that “No comparable nuclear power station anywhere in the world has been built on time and to budget” and said the taxpayer ”should never be put in this position again”.

Read the PAC’s report here:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/218492/sizewell-c-investors-set-to-cash-in-and-leave-taxpayers-to-foot-the-bill-pac-warns/

In a joint response to the report, Stop Sizewell C and Professor Steve Thomas said: “We welcome the Public Accounts Committee’s conclusion that the funding of Sizewell C represents a ‘terrible deal’ for the UK taxpayer, with investors guaranteed generous returns and protection from overspends and overruns, while taxpayers and consumers carry the can on a project that is certain to do both. It’s not just its fuel that will make Sizewell C radioactive.

“Given the PAC has exposed this terrible deal, we call on the government to learn from HS2 and cancel Sizewell C now, before any more public money is wasted. We believe the savings from forcing households to pay Sizewell C’s inflated electricity prices for 60 years would pay for any abandonment costs at this early stage, multiple times over. These savings should be dedicated to renewables, storage and energy efficiency.

“With the nation reeling under a cost of living crisis, consumers must be protected now and in the future from the risks of building nuclear power stations. We call on the Chancellor in his Budget to make a commitment that the RAB funding model will never be used again for any future nuclear project. All it offers is a free ride for investors and financial pain for households.”

Our response was picked up by a number of news outlets including:
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/28/plan-for-multibillion-pound-sizewell-nuclear-plant-a-terrible-deal-for-uk-taxpayers-mps-say
Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/bc330ee4-f151-4552-88a8-8879a26d8fdd?syn-25a6b1a6=1
BBC online: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw0k0128dx55o
EADT (front page, see image, top!): https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/26674843.sizewell-c-branded-terrible-deal-uk-taxpayers/
New Civil Engineer: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/financing-structure-for-sizewell-c-a-terrible-deal-public-accounts-committee-28-10-2026/
Earlier today Alison did interviews with BBC Radio Suffolk and ITV Anglia.

Additionally, The Times’ business columnist Alistair Osborne, has written one of his excellent coruscating pieces: https://www.thetimes.com/article/e8e52879-f915-4e2b-a284-9386cd400796?

We believe this report would attract more attention were it not for the PAC’s decision – for reasons only known to themselves – to release it on Budget Day!

Sizewell C Forums
Construction works continue to disrupt local traffic, with multiple road closures and traffic lights, especially around the paths of the Sizewell Link Road and Two Villages Bypass. Parish Councillors are working hard to hold Sizewell C to account. If you have particular issues, try contacting them and your local councillors on Suffolk County and East Suffolk Councils and ask them to raise your concerns at the forthcoming Transport Forums, as follows.
4 November: Northern Transport Forum, 6pm High Lodge Darsham
2 December: Southern Transport Forum, 6pm Riverside Centre Stratford St Andrew

As ever, thank you for your continued support.

Alison & Paul,
Alison Downes and Paul Collins, Stop Sizewell C
www.stopsizewellc.org