Momentum is gathering behind moves to stop Britain’s withdrawal from Europe’s nuclear agency after Brexit.

While MPs from across different political parties are hoping to amend a Bill to keep Britain in Euratom, a poll by the nuclear industry’s trade body has found little public appetite for the country to pull out of an agency that oversees nuclear safety and standards.

John Woodcock MP for Barrow and Furness and long-standing vocal critic of leaving Euratom added his name to a cross party amendment to the controversial EU Withdrawal Bill in an attempt to maintain the relationship.

The Government has said that Britain will withdraw from Euratom at the same time as it leaves the EU in 2019 because the agency sits within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Mr Woodcock MP said the withdrawal would put Cumbria and Britain at risk

“The nuclear industry is of vital importance to the economy here in Cumbria and protecting it is one of my main priorities in the Brexit process,” he said.

“Euratom is working well for Britain and there is no way we should be pulling out unless we can set up an equally good alternative.

“If the government are too scared to even agree to show us their plans and let parliament decide then it shows they are putting their own narrow ideology ahead of the future of jobs and the economy in Cumbria.”

Trudy Harrison MP for Copeland, home to the Sellafield site, where Euratom has a permanent presence, Low Level Waste Repository and dozens of supply chain companies, did not sign the amendment, describing the Bill as “necessary” but a “Plan B”.

“I will not accept being pushed off our pedestal of internationally respected nuclear excellence,” she said.

“Without the replacement provisions in place, if we have to leave Euratom, we will fall not only from that pedestal, but right off the cliff in March 2019. The Bill is therefore vital, if only as a plan B.”

She added: “The Government’s decision to withdraw from Euratom is a key concern for many businesses in my constituency and for those working in the nuclear industry throughout the UK.

“I understand that there may well be a potential for the United Kingdom to remain part of Euratom, or to become an associate member if an agreement can be reached that is mutually beneficial and suits the UK.”

The Bill went through its second reading without a vote. A debate around the amendment is expected to take place in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, a Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) poll conducted by YouGov found only one in 10 members of the public think Britain should leave Euratom, with 56% per cent of respondents wanting to remain and 34% unsure.

Of the respondents 72% said the free movement of nuclear workers, skills and products was important, with 64% agreeing that investing in research was significant. It also found that one in five who voted to leave the EU in 2016 want Britain to stay part of Euratom, with the figure rising to 76% with those who voted to remain.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA, has already warned that leaving Euratom has the potential to hit Britain’s electricity supply and disrupt nuclear new build projects.

“Leaving Euratom means replicating its administrative, practical and technical safeguarding obligations, negotiating nuclear specific trade agreements, and ensuring the UK’s continued involvement in Euratom R&D programmes,” he said.

“This will be extremely challenging in the remaining 529 days, alongside all the other negotiations which need to take place.

“While continued, or some form of associate, Euratom membership is the industry’s preferred option, the government’s starting point should be to at least seek agreement on a transitional period, to avoid the increasingly real prospect of a cliff edge exit.”

The Prospect union has also expressed its concerns, and has called on its members to contact their MPs and encourage them to back the amendment.

Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect said: "Leaving Euratom presents real danger to the UK nuclear sector. There is no convincing case for leaving Euratom, however if we are leaving time is now running out for the government to set out a proper action plan to deal with nuclear cooperation, funding and safeguarding.”