The influential House of Commons trade and industry select committee has warned the UK government that it risks rushing into a decision to build a new fleet of nuclear power plants.

The committee’s warning comes just days ahead of the publication of the government’s much-heralded energy review. The select committee’s report cautions that the government must understand that its policy on energy has to serve the country for decades to come, and an unnecessary over-reliance on nuclear could have a lasting legacy for the UK economy.

In particular, the MPs are concerned that the review is little more than a ‘rubber stamping’ exercise to give the green light for nuclear. There is widely held view that this is the case following comments earlier this year by prime minister Tony Blair, who told the Confederation of British Industry that nuclear was ‘back on the agenda with a vengeance’.