CND anti-nuclear protestors - minister told to cut his links or face conflict of interest The Conservatives have demanded that the new Energy Minister Peter Hain should resign from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament or be stripped of any responsibility for nuclear power.

Mr Hain, often tipped as a Labour high-flyer, was appointed to his new post in the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the mini-reshuffle following the dramatic resignation of Peter Mandelson from the government.

But the shadow trade secretary David Heathcoat-Amory has launched a strong attack on the appointment and he questioned whether Mr Hain can ever be objective over nuclear power, given his previous views.

The minister has rejected the attack, saying he will not be dictated to by "Tory nonentities".

Concern at record

The Tory trade spokesman has written to Mr Hain's new boss, Stephen Byers, to express concerns about the former foreign office minister's record of opposition to nuclear weapons.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory says that CND campaigns against the nuclear industry as well as against nuclear weapons, and points out that in 1986 Mr Hain called for Labour to oppose the nuclear energy programme.

'Clearly-professed views'

The letter from the shadow trade secretary says: "Mr Hain will be responsible for policy regarding the nuclear energy industry.

"I do not believe he can carry out his duties in that role in an objective way when he has clearly-professed views and positions against the industry as a whole."

He adds that the electricity industry will need to know that the appointment of Mr Hain will not lead to any change of policy over nuclear power so, if the minister is to retain responsibility for the nuclear industry, he must resign his membership of CND and make a clear and public statement confirming this.

'Unacceptable'

Mr Heathcoat-Amory told journalists it was unacceptable to have as minister in charge of nuclear power a man who was openly and clearly opposed not only to nuclear weapons but also to civil nuclear energy.

"He will inspire absolutely no confidence in the electricity industry."

Mr Hain retorted that he had no intention of resigning from CND saying he would not be dictated to.

He stressed he was "100% behind" the government's energy policy which "contained a nuclear energy element" and that government policy was obviously at odds with CND's position.

His membership of the anti-nuclear group would in no way determine his direction as energy minister, he stressed.

Tories 'desperate'

"I pay £9 a year to Wales CND. That is my contribution and I am not going to have Tory nonentities determine who I pay that to any more than I would let them dictate my membership of my local rugby club.

"I am 100% behind the government's policy which is not that of CND."

Mr Hain said the speech he made opposing nuclear power in 1986 had been "a very long time ago". He thought the Tories had to be desperate to drag it up again now.

The minister said he was excited by his move to take responsibility for energy policy and was looking forward to getting back into "bread and butter" politics.