Warning from head of North East England Chamber of Commerce is echoed by other organisations.

Move by Japanese firm would be blow to UK plans to replace coal plants and ageing reactors. / The Japanese conglomerate Hitachi looks certain to cancel its plans for a £16bn nuclear power station in Wales, leaving Britain’s ambitions for a nuclear renaissance in tatters.

Nissan, Honda and Hitachi were the pillars of an Anglo-Japanese accord dating back to the 1980s. That deal is now in ruins.