Forum Topic

Energy use advised camping pulled as No. 10 objects

The government has decided not to launch a public information campaign on reducing energy use this winter after the prime minister's office raised objections, the BBC has been told.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63170588Beyond bizarre - total madness!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d17 Comments

Ed. I think we've been here before and I agree  with you that the HoL, a hereditary head of state and FOTP systems aren't fit for purpose in a 21C democracy.  However, I'm a pragmatist and realise changing any of that is a long term, herculean task - after all, the electoral has already rejected removing FPTP voting in a referendum a decade ago.What we're talking about here are policies being followed by the executive part of government which seemingly holds the real power (although some might think it's really the bankers and right wing press). There's just a chance pressure from MPs and opinion polls might force a change of policy if not an actual election - one might need a vote of no confidence in the government to force that and it's too close to Christmas for the turkeys to vote for that :-(

Michael Ixer ● 1212d

Michael,We are a first past the post parliamentary democracy with an hereditary head of state and a mainly appointed upper house.Pointing a finger at one bit and saying there is not a democratic mandate for this bit doesn't make sense.There's not a mandate for any of it or there is a mandate for all of it IMO.

Ed Robinson ● 1212d

Ed  I agree there's no legal or constitutional reason Ms Truss has to go to the electorate for a different mandate. However, we still have to see how many of her MPs are behind her in these changes let alone the majority of the electorate. Circumstances have changed but some of her policy changes - allowing fracking, new North Sea exploration licences, nuclear fission AND fusion power stations - aren't going to have any immediate impact on the energy crises whereas investment in more renewable energy generation and better insulation would have shorter lead times in making a difference. Plus 78 organisations have put their name to a letter urging the PM not to cause harm to the environment by introducing deregulation. I'd say Truss has no reason or mandate for those changes. 

Michael Ixer ● 1212d

"must go back to the electorate for a new mandate"Although I can't imagine any other leader just dropping policies they were elected on and taking up complete opposite ones - especially with no change in circumstances. But circumstances have changed and Truss' actions are within our constitution.

Ed Robinson ● 1212d

Ivonne,Energy use is very tightly linked to housing and those in rented accommodation will be very limited choices.1980 there was indeed house inflation - fuelled if I remember rightly by the double tax relief on mortgages. We of course had a crash later in that decade along with 16% mortgage rates. Not an easy time for some but great for others if you managed to get on the ladder at the right time.Today a small one bedroom flat will set you back 300K. 3 times joint salary in the old days would mean earning approx 50K each today - along way from what was required in the 80's.A high percentage of young people are in short term rental accommodation often with very limited space and stuck with the appliances that the rental provides. Difficult to even change you energy provider if you have less than 12 months rental period and that is assuming it is not on a pay as you go.Never mind insulation but simple things like curtains require certainty which they just do not have.The government are also putting up interest rates which will mean higher rents and mortgages.It doesn't impact those of us who are already secure but after a decade of near zero interest rates it will be a nasty shock for many.We have a regressive energy policy that needs to be turned into a progressive one.There is not even a requirement for rental properties to be energy efficient - just a certificate stating what the category is.Apparently the advert is available on line - the only one I found was a spoof that was very accurate.

Ed Robinson ● 1212d

I agree Michael,That is why I said the 2019 Tory manifesto was broken some time ago.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d

Ivonne. Wasn't that with the caveat that Liz should follow the original manifesto or go back to the electorate. True they've broken promises, one being going for a hard rather than a soft Brexit !

Michael Ixer ● 1213d

And then, on the BBC News website, in the article entitled:Cabinet minister urges Tory MPs to unite behind Liz Trusshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63189613Go down 10 paragraphs and it reads:"Ms Dorries, who insisted she was "still one of Liz's biggest supporters", called on Tory colleagues to unify behind the prime minister."

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d

I am afraid I will never agree with Nadine Dorries....  Not very nice thing to say, I agree.However, I think the 2019 Tory manifesto was forgotten some time ago and now, we have a government with a figure head guided by the ERG?  It is such an incredible and depressing mess!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d

Hello Ed,I am afraid I do not quite follow your reply.  I was talking about an energy use campaign.  Your reply about cost of housing?If I may follow your line of thinking, perhaps you would be kind enough to explain why the 1/2 share of the first flat I purchased in the 1980s was sold 18 months later and my 50% share then was equal to 100% purchase price of the flat.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d

What's scary about this is that I find myself agreeing with Nadine Dorres: if Ms Truss is going to introduce policies radically different from the Tory 2019 manifesto - which she appears to doing - then she must go back to the electorate for a new mandate. The only one she has at present is from a small number of Tory party members, it's unclear whether even her own MPs are onside with what's she's doing.

Michael Ixer ● 1213d

Insulate the body not the room!  It's interesting that Octopus Energy were giving away electric blankets.  There are of course many different types of these so if thinking about it find out more.Try not to get cold eg put on enough clothing when you go out so you don't lose the body heat that you have.  Layers are best. If only your head is uncovered then you will lose heat from that.However if you wrap up so much that you can't move faster or swing your arms then you that can be counter productive.Wearing high heels and high fashion in the ice and snow or flip flops and shorts and you'll quickly get cold.This is so much harder with children who are constantly needing larger sizes as they grow so school second hand shops and other ways of handing on outgrown coats are so welcome.If you get wet you will get cold fast.With central heating nearly everywhere nowadays we've become so used to having warm homes all the time.  My FIL used to talk about a teacher at their school who used to stand with her back to the fire and raise her skirt to keep warm.  And all that diving out of bed to light the gas fire before getting out of bed!It's true the youngsters today have probably never suffered from chilblains so some info would no doubt be useful.

Philippa Bond ● 1213d

Perhaps there could be a government educational campaign targeting older people to explaining that younger people spend a far higher proportion of their incomes on housing than older people ever did?Housing cost represent the biggest possible saving. Buying in bulk and freezing leftovers ect can be quite difficult if there is no freezer or storage for bulk items in their 12 month rented tenency.Many are also likely to be on pay as you go fuel tariffs.Low standard charge tariffs for monthly direct debit seem to have disappeared too.But if there was such an educational campaign by the government would it explain the simple truth that the more you have the less you pay?I think not!Some may ask the obvious question of why energy charges and their taxation are not more progressive? Which would obviously help low income and the environment.

Ed Robinson ● 1213d

No, Andy, I do not need to be told.But it was to be a national campaign - and there are very many young people who may not be that aware on how to save on energy?I am all in favour of educational campaigns, are you not?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d

Do people still need to be told ' use less save money' ? Or eat less lose weight?

Andy Pike ● 1213d

Perhaps they should just remove VAT from insulation.Unbelievable that it is still 20% still!

Ed Robinson ● 1213d

Apologies, the title should readEnergy use advise campaign pulled as No. 10 objects

Ivonne Holliday ● 1213d