According to a BBC report, the paper will advocate the building of up to eight new, privately-funded nuclear power stations in the next 15 years – essentially to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions as well as its dependence on other oil and gas producing nations.

“Whether you like it or not, nuclear power is a low carbon-emitting source,” said Darling. “To exclude nuclear would be a big mistake.”

Writing in today’s Times, the current PM Tony Blair added his support.

“It is right that we consider how nuclear power can help to underpin the security of our energy supply without increasing our reliance on fossil fuels,” he argued.

But despite also setting out plans for renewable energy in the paper, the government’s policy has already received criticism from environmentalists.

“If the Government do go down the nuclear route, they will be committing the UK to a dirty, dangerous and astronomically expensive future,” said Green Party spokesperson Sian Berry in The Independent.