Cumbria's leading politicians have called for the Government to do all it can to make sure Moorside goes ahead.

West Cumbrian MPs Trudy Harrison and Sue Hayman are currently in China, meeting with the Chinese state-backed firm China General Nuclear Power Group.

Mrs Harrison, Copeland MP, will also meet with the UK Government's Minister for Nuclear on Monday.

She said: "Now is not the time for doubt, but for redoubling our efforts to get Moorside over the line.

"The latest set back means we must now accelerate efforts to secure Moorside.

"Toshiba, Tom Samson and his team have demonstrated such determination and thanks to that commitment we have a site, a Government policy and a local ambition to secure new nuclear on the Moorside site here in Copeland.

"My ambition remains – the country needs new nuclear as part of our low carbon energy generation and Cumbria needs Moorside."

Mrs Hayman, Workington MP and co-chair of All Party Parliamentary Group for Nuclear Energy, said: "This is truly terrible news, not just for Cumbria, but for the UK as a whole.

"For months now, I have been calling on the Government to back Moorside in the way that they’ve given their backing to other new nuclear projects across the country.

"But today’s announcement makes it clear that the Government just does not care about the future of West Cumbria.

“The Government’s failure to offer support for the project has meant the loss of thousands of future jobs in West Cumbria, and that is utterly unacceptable.

"Quite simply, the people of West Cumbria have been betrayed by this Conservative government.

"They lied to us when they told us that they backed Moorside just to win the Copeland by-election.

"They failed to even mention nuclear in their 2017 election manifesto. They have ignored all of my calls to intervene to safeguard the future of the Moorside project. And now they have shamefully betrayed the people of West Cumbria.

“This week, in my role as co-chair of the all party group for nuclear energy, I’m in China meeting with senior representatives of China General Nuclear Power Group.

"I will be exploring whether they may be interested in taking an interest in the development of new nuclear power in West Cumbria in some shape or form.

"I will continue to fight for vital jobs and investment in West Cumbria, even if the Government has no interest in our community.

"NuGen's chief executive Tom Samson has worked tirelessly to try to save Moorside, but at the end of the day the Government simply refused to help."

Mike Starkie, Copeland's elected mayor, said: "We’ll be lobbying the Government hard to get its financial muscle behind it the site by underpinning the development, to give it some traction and to build on the progress that has already been made.

"It is hugely frustrating that we continue to be hampered by delays and uncertainty.

"I call upon the Government to support Moorside and give the confidence investors need to work with us.

"The Government also needs to fully comprehend that the Copeland community is an incredibly valuable asset and it simply cannot afford that goodwill to depreciate.

"For decades our people have stood full square behind numerous governments in full support of their nuclear ambitions and we expect that support to be reciprocated. The Copeland community should not be taken for granted."

John Stevenson, Carlisle MP, hosted the second Cumbria Nuclear Conference in September, which included an update from NuGen chief executive Tom Samson, who warned the wind up of the company remained a very real prospect.

Mr Stevenson said: “This is hugely disappointing for Cumbria. It is a significant setback and I’m very disappointed the Government has not intervened and been more proactive.

“Toshiba and Kepco had effectively reached a deal, but Kepco wanted reassurances from the Government that have clearly not been forthcoming.

“The Government does not seem to have a coherent view on energy policy when it comes to investment in nuclear new build. They will invest in the Wylfa (Newydd) project but not Moorside.

"The Government will have to explain why that is the case and answer for itself.

“I do believe a nuclear power station will be built on the site, but this decision has set things back for a number of years, which makes it so disappointing for Cumbria and also leaves the Government with a significant energy shortfall.

“They now need to find another source for the seven per cent so’s worth of energy that Moorside would have provided.

"This is a significant national energy security issue. It is not helpful in the move to a low carbon economy and it is not helpful to delivering the Government’s Industrial Strategy.”