Sweet and sour! How lunch to celebrate deal was cancelled

IT was supposed to be a lavish ninecourse lunch to celebrate the British, French and Chinese collaboration in the building of the new power station.

Contracts were going to be signed under a white marquee specially erected in the shadow of Hinkley’s existing plants in Somerset.

The mega-project is aiming to generate per cent of Britain’s electricity, which is the equivalent of enough energy to power six million homes.

It is due to be three times more powerful than existing power stations and ex-Prime Minister David Cameron con- sidered it key to keeping the nation’s lights on. Opening Hinkley was mentioned in the 2015 Tory manifesto.

Senior business figures and dignitaries – including two Chinese officials – began arriving in the UK on Thursday night ahead of yesterday’s planned gala event to celebrate the end of a ten-year journey.

Then the came the Government’s announcement that they wouldn’t be making a final decision on the deal until the autumn. The Chinese dignitaries were sent back home, and the food for the ‘Somerset/French/Chinese’ fusion menu was binned.

Guests were due to be served West Country duck breast served on a plum-sauce-lacquered bruschetta and Somerset pork and apple Wellingtons. The raw mackerel ceviche was topped with French creme fraiche.

This would have been followed by Cantonese-style pork crackling, Hoi sin lamb skewers, and Thai-scented beef fillet.

However, there was no fine wine because there is a strict alcohol ban at nuclear sites.