Ministers turn down cross-Channel power cable plan linked to party donor who gave Conservatives more than £1million
- Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng decided to dismiss the plans from Aquind
- They were to bring in an electricity link between Portsmouth and Normandy
- Alexander Temerko donated over £1m to Tories and is listed as Aquind director
A cross-Channel power cable project linked to a Conservative Party donor has been rejected by the Government.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng decided to dismiss Aquind’s plans to provide a new electricity link between Portsmouth and Normandy in France.
The proposal was controversial, with a former energy minister having to recuse herself from the process over funding from one of the company’s owners.
Alexander Temerko, a British citizen who was born in the Soviet Union, has donated more than £1million to the Tories and is listed as a director of Aquind Limited.
Alexander Temerko (pictured with the PM), a British citizen who was born in the Soviet Union, has donated more than £1million to the Tories and is listed as a director of Aquind Limited
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng decided to dismiss Aquind’s plans (pictured) to provide a new electricity link between Portsmouth and Normandy in France
A letter published on the Planning Inspectorate website showed Mr Kwarteng decided to ‘refuse development consent’ having considered his obligations under the energy National Policy Statement.
Trade minister Penny Mordaunt, the MP for Portsmouth North, celebrated the decision, tweeting ‘we did it’.
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, a Labour frontbencher, said: ‘The Government have finally seen sense and stopped the disastrous Aquind project.
Alexander Temerko is pictured with former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron
‘This is a victory for the people of Portsmouth over years of uncertainty and Tory cronyism.’
Berwick-upon-Tweed MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, now the International Trade Secretary, removed herself from the process in July over funding received by Northumberland Conservatives.
In 2020, Mr Temerko told MPs that Russian-linked businessmen have ‘zero’ political influence.
His remarks came amid concerns about the influence of Russian-linked oligarchs in the highest echelons of British business and politics.
Aquind’s website said the cabe ‘will make energy markets more efficient, improve security of supply and enable greater flexibility as power grids evolve’