© Getty Images Horizon Nuclear Power signs at Wylfa Newydd (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A settled government in London could strengthen the prospects of a new nuclear power plant on Anglesey , the island’s economic chief has suggested.

Cllr Carwyn Jones said Boris Johnson’s solid majority could mean that the ‘paused’ Hitachi project might be salvaged.

The massive nuclear power station project was shelved in January after the Japanese tech giant failed to reach a funding deal with the UK government under Theresa May.

But Cllr Jones said the new Johnson government, which has ambitious green energy targets, may be keen to revive the Wylfa project.

He said: “If you look back at the past three and a half years, the debate over Brexit has paralysed the UK Government.

“I have no doubt that Wylfa Newydd and the energy white paper have been among the victims of this paralysis, due to everyone being so engrossed in Brexit.

“But now there’s a government in London that has a healthy majority, we’re certainly hopeful they can now get back to work.

“Judging on the noises coming from London, there is a willingness to tackle climate change by meeting carbon targets by 2050.

“To meet this, of course, they will need a mix which includes nuclear as well as tidal, wind and other renewable forms.”

In the Conservative Party’s pre-election manifesto, the party stated its support for hydrogen production and nuclear energy as “important parts of the energy system”, alongside increasing a commitment to renewables .

The island’s new Tory MP, Virginia Crosbie, described nuclear as a way to “decarbonise our economy”, and said she would “champion the development” of Wylfa Newydd".

“The loss of so many well paid and highly skilled jobs on the Island over the last decade adds urgency to the need to create the jobs and training opportunities that Wylfa will bring,” she said.

“In addition, Wylfa will help our local economy by making businesses, especially those in the thriving hospitality sector, less dependent on seasonal tourism.

“My dad worked at the first Wylfa power station and I am determined to continue the legacy for the future generations on Ynys Môn.”

It has long been rumoured that the UK government white paper, or formal policy document, will contain details of the regulated asset base funding model for nuclear plant construction.

Cllr Jones, a Plaid Cymru councillor since 2013, added that he would like to see closer collaboration between the economy and climate change departments within the UK Government.

The rumoured Regulated Asset Base (RAB) funding model, he added, would allow private companies, including pension and investment funds, to invest in projects under the oversight of a government regulator, in exchange for being allowed to collect a fee from energy customers.

“We have positioned ourselves as an energy island in terms of research, potential sites, local backing, M-Sparc, a world leading facility at Coleg Menai. So I feel we’re well positioned to fit in to this vision going forward,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We’ve lost Rehau and Macro cables, and there are ongoing job losses at Magnox, but I feel we’re in as strong a position as ever to attract major developments such as Wylfa Newydd, which would be a game-changer on a huge scale.

“It would also bring millions in terms of Section 106 investment into our leisure, education and housing, roads, tourism, where public money is currently scarce.

“Wylfa and a third crossing would bring so much work, and with the UK government now able to fulfil the work of government, the certainty of a settled Parliament helps us, no matter whatever their political colours are.”