UK watchdog slams Hinkley Point nuclear deal

A report by UK spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) has labelled the government’s deal for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant as "high cost and risky".

"While committing the developer to bearing the construction risks means taxpayers and consumers are protected from costs overrunning, consumers could end up paying more for [Hinkley’s] electricity than if the government had shared these risks," said the report, which was published on Friday.

"Past experience shows that ultimately these risks could shift back to taxpayers or...