Tuesday
May032011
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill Exit stage left, Huhne...?
May 3, 2011 Energy Guido Fawkes reckons that Chris Huhne could stand down as the UK's Energy and Climate Change Secretary at the cabinet meeting on Friday, with (relative) right-winger David Laws favourite to replace him.
Reader Comments (38)
Fingers crossed - the man is a loon.
Hmm, Friday morning... after the dust is settling on the ref on av? If the no vote wins, would think he would stay on... Interesting...
Having been an active Lib Dem for all my adult life, and even a Young Liberal in my youth, I'm just disgusted by this pathetically weak bunch of Liberal Democrat Westminster politicians. It's not just on matters of climate, I feel betrayed on matters across the board. I'm sickened. I seriously doubt Laws will be any more rational on energy policy than Huhne, though. I'm sick of the lot of them. Gah!
The Lib Dems are now facing two old and two new problems IMHO.
The first old problem is that their leaders have been utterly useless twerps for as long as I can remember. Clegg? Doesn't know what the old age pension is within a factor of 3 and discusses in interviews how many women he has shtupped. Twerp. Menzies Campbell? Sill old fool who claims to be a foreign policy expert, which is like an Eskimo being an expert on deserts. Kennedy? Lying comedy show drunkard. Ashdown? Adulterous preachy twit. Steel? "Go back to your constituencies..." - say no more. Thorpe? Arranged to have Rinka shot. That's about 40 consistent years of abject buffoons at the helm.
The second old problem is that a lot of LD local parties simply seem to be refuges for local Labour parties where Labour has no chance of winning. This tends to mean that there are at least two quite parties under one banner, a problem nobody else faces to the same degree.
The two new problems are, first, that in opposition they cynically promised stuff they expected never to have tio worry about delivering. They thus gave no thought to the consequences or implications. And second, now that they're in government, they're having to face up to consequences in a way for which many are temperamentally inequipped.
It's like putting the student union of King's College, Cambridge into Number Ten. For some in each case, it's not about being practical, responsible abd effective, it's about making the right noises.
I just cannot fathom by what electoral mishap this lot blundered into power, and it seems clear that neither do they.
Interesting comment from Andrew Dawson at the Spectator Coffee House concerning Huhne:
"for what it's worth, there's been some muttering around the energy industry (who obviously have to deal with DECC), about Huhne for some time. It's been embarrasingly obvious he's been utterly sidelined, and the department is in fact being run by Charles Hendry, who's in direct charge of all the key policy area (Smart Metering, new nuclear, the energy market reforms).
The grapevine has it that Huhne was "mugged" in his first few days in office, by a briefing from David Mackay, DECC's Chief Scientific Officer, who systematically shredded Huhne's positions on energy policy going forward by showing them to be utterly naive in terms of technology and cost. Huhne's credibility within the department collapsed, and he's proven incapable of recovering it. Most of the speculation has been about how long it would take him to implode - he's got a large ego, and being bypassed like this apparently rankels."
Lib Dem "heavyweights" like Huhne and Cable look much more comfortable carping from the sidelines than actually entrusted with positions of responsibility. If they decided to blow up the current coalition, I think they would find that the electorate had little enthusiasm for handing them power in a centre-left coalition more to their own choosing.
Huhne has been an unmitigated disaster and should be sacked before he has a chance to do more damage.
Lib Dem "heavyweights"
Oxymoron Nicholas? Love it though!
David Laws was the Chief Secretary to the Treasury forced to step down while he sorted out his expenses claims shortly after being appointed.
One good thing about him is that he has a firm hand on finance. Might one expect him to want to cut costs when looking at the Climate Change Act? maybe that is on the cards already and is the real reason Chris Hulme is getting upset.
J4R,
Sadly it's not just the LibDems who have had rubbish leadership for the last forty years. With the partial exception of Maggie, every party has had either a bunch of muppets or some truly evil people in charge.
Few things would give me greater pleasure than to be proved wrong, but I suspect rumours of Huhne's demise are premature.
Huhne strikes me as being the very epitome of the 21st century politician.
From the flash city boy running around London in his personalised BMW 7 series - to the serious party leadership challenger - and now to the frugal conscience of the green movement (but still hanging on to his multiple rental property portfolio).
He's venal, disloyal, lecherous, self-serving, hypocritical, opportunistic and vacillating - a real role model for the current political class.
Apart from which - I really don't like him.
Foxgoose
Stop pussyfooting around and say what you think!
;-)
Foxgoose
Don't forget that he is an ignoramus.
This is most likely a bid for the lib dem leadership. Huhne sees a chance of replacing a flagging Clegg by 'standing up to DC' in a manly kind of way and, we all hope, flouncing out of the cabinet in a tiz after the vote on Thursday.
It makes for great entertainment whatever your political hue.
I think Huhne is probably after Clegg's job (again) and will be rallying the other disgruntled back-benchers in the Lib Dems against the Government. Of course by disgruntled I mean those who weren't given a job :p.
Either way, it makes no difference. The tail wags the dog. A ministerial car and salary awaits anyone willing to take the job on, so obviously he or she is going to be enthusiastic about it.
The papers are reporting Buff-Huhne had a bit of a nose-to-nose with 'Call me Dave' over AV, so I think we can expect a cabinet reshuffle fairly soon at the least. If, as widely expected, the Clegg Factor slaughters the LD's on Thursday it might be sooner than we think. Politicians are a fickle bunch and to be attached to a bunch of toxic lefties wont sit well with the Tory back-bench right wingers and the blue rinse brigade in the shires.
A friend of mine is an LD member and already muttering about changes come Friday. He acknowledges that its all over according to the doorstep reaction.
Huhne out - trebles all round !
It's been a tough year all round for the LibDems ever since Clegg dragged them out of the Shadow of Righteousness in all things, and into the Glare of Decision Making and its consequences.
This would be the perfect time to amend the job title by omitting the 'climate change' bit if Cameron had the bottle, but it won't happen, too much money involved.
Huhne can't go too Soohne.
I am nervous of slagging off politicos in my host country, but in the almost-decade I have been in the UK, I have been a keen observer of the political scene. The first thing that really shocked me was the lack of experience of anything like earning a living before wannabe politicians are offered seats in electorates where they have to do little more than wear the correctly-coloured rosette on their well-cut lapels to be a shoo-in.
Another factor that is totally against my political upbringing and experience is the politicisation of local bodies, which in the UK tend to be filled with hopeful party hacks wearing their trainer wheels for an eventual parliamentary career which is usually well beyond their slender abilities.
The other factors that stick out for me; the sheer greed of UK politicians and their apalling sense of entitlement, the farce that the Upper House has become in latter years, and the sheer and blinding ignorance of technical or scientific matters which should be central to some parliamentary positions; the most glaring example is the profound ignorance that borders on wilful stupidity that is evidenced in the inanities Hune utters as his version of appropriate portfolio knowledge.
Whilst there are few misfortunes that could befall BuffHuhne which he would not richly deserves, he is such an obvious nitwit that I wonder if he is not, like Ed Milipede, Al Gore, Prince Chuckles, Joe Romm, Bob "Attack Chihuahua" Ward (and even our very own ZedDeadBeat) of more use to us in their current roles.
As Recruiting Sergeants for scepticism.
A right-winger in Britian, what is that a Trotskyite?
Henry
let's face it, we need to find a way (everywhere) to develop a completely different kind of politician from what we have foisted on us these days.
@mikemUK
...dragged them out of the Shadow of Righteousness in all things, and into the Glare of Decision Making and its consequences
Today's LibDems in a nutshell.
Love it :)
Hands up all those who care ?
Thought not.
That is a shame as Chris Huhne was the only real competition William Hage had in the ‘biggest arse ‘ of a minister contest. How he will be missed, let hope his replaced with someone of similar stature , such as recently dead Hamster .
Pete H wrote:
Lib Dem "heavyweights"
Oxymoron Nicholas? Love it though!
What about the late Cyril Smith? Nobody could ever accuse him of being a light weight!
KnR : 'That is a shame as Chris Huhne was the only real competition William Hage had in the ‘biggest arse ‘ of a minister contest.'
Technically, I think that would be Eric Pickles (who follows in the slime-trail of Lard (sic) Prescott}! Metaphorically, it's a toss-up.
If only one might dare hope.
Almost anyone would be an improvement.
If there is to be a change may I suggest that all we need is a Minister to be responsible for the Department of Energy? There is also no need for the introduction of an additional Laws.
@ Alexander K,May 3, 2011 at 8:58 PM
Why be nervous? It's an impeccably accurate analysis.
"...How he will be missed, let hope his replaced with someone of similar stature , such as recently dead Hamster ." --KnR
Show me the hamster.
MPs and voters alike in the UK have to obey the law of the land, namely the Climate Change Act 2008.
Until such time that CCA 2008 is repealed, then the current madness will continue irrespective of the clown wafting around in the ministerial Prius
However, for this to happen, more than 326 MPs (current HoC has 650 seats) will have to vote in such a way as to show the voters that a mistake was made by 463 MPs who voted "aye" in October 2008. MPs do not readily admit mistakes.
Of the 463 deluded loons who voted "aye" in 2008, 345 of them were re-elected in May 2010 so there is a mountain to climb there!
The only way that voters can help to scale this mountain is to send a copy of the recent RAE Report to their MP pointing out the folly of their actions in October 2008, and asking them to recant, and telling them if they do not recant they will lose a vote.
The report is here:
http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/shownews.htm?NewsID=553
and you can get details of your MP by putting your post code in the box here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics
Good luck.
Huhne was on Any Questions last week, still insisting that onshore wind was economically viable, although sadly no-one suggested that it should therefore have its subsidies removed. Dimblebore was in the chair and few Hard Questions were posed, although there was more than the usual rousing applause for UKIP's response, which seemed to take DB by surprise. R4 this morning suggested that Huhne might not survive long after recent insults to the Tories - he doesn't seem awfully popular!
No explanations so far (anyone correct me..??) as to why the government has suddenly, and quietly, downgraded the proposals for offshore wind in 2020 from 30GW to 12GW.
Not an outbreak of common sense, surely..? That would be too spooky for words...
If Huhne goes (yes, please) what chance of a 'disconnect' between the Department for Energy (vital) and Climate Change (waste of time and our money)...?
David
The explanation is obvious: our political masters have just woken up to sheer implausibility of the target.
Not only does it represent a nigh-on impossible engineering challenge, it will cost more than anyone is now willing to pay.
This leaves the UK in an awkward position because of our ludicrous commitments under the CCA. The only logical outcome is that the CCA will be either repealed or substantially redrafted.
Oddly, for once, I am fairly optimistic that this will (eventually) have to happen. Brownedoff always talks sense, and in the mean time we should consider doing as he suggests above at May 4, 2011 at 7:43 AM:
Every little helps, as they say. However, I suspect that the political need to get rid of the CCA is rapidly becoming urgent. Certainly this was Sara Muckerjee's view in her recent speech (linked by BH a few threads back).
Given that our leaders are exceptionally capable of doing what suits them best, there is hope yet.
Well,they are now paying the windfarm owners NOT to generate to the Grid !
This being the case too many wind-watts would cost too much for not being generated.
LOONY
the Flashman of energy?....Stand down?....
http://fenbeagleblog.wordpress.com/
BBD - since when did 'implausibility' ever put our politicians off..?? Let's face it - there's hardly an engineer amongst them...
No - actually - you're right - and lets all keep our fingers crossed for the CCA to be 'quietly' modified or dropped...
What I can't understand (and am probably not meant to) is that in the same Sunday Times article which reports the reduction in offshore wind, is a pie chart for 2020, still showing a HUGE 'slice' marked 'Renewables'...(34% - up from 5% now) - and coal down from 37% to 5%..! (source: JP Morgan) Nuclear down from 13% to 12% - I thought we were expanding this sector - Fukushima notwithstanding...?
None of this makes the slightest sense...
May 4, 2011 at 1:24 PM | David
During March 2011, Huhne wrote a letter to the Chief Nuclear Inspector asking him to do a report following the events at Fukushima. Here is the letter:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/What%20we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/Energy%20mix/Nuclear/1437-letter-from-the-secretary-of-state-for-energy-and-.pdf
We should therefore wait for the preliminary report, due during May, when I expect that the Chief Nuclear Inspector well inform Huhne that the UK nuclear fleet is under constant surveillance by his inspectors and everything is satisfactory.
The following dates for closure have all been approved by the authorities:
1 Oldbury 1&2 2x217MWe CLOSES Mid-2011
2 Wylfa 1&2 Magnox 2x490MWe CLOSES End 2012
3 Hinkley Point B 1&2 AGR 2 x 610MWe,
but operating at 70% (430 MWe) CLOSES 2016
4 Hunterston B 1&2 AGR 2 x 610MWe,
but operating at 70% (420 MWe) CLOSES 2016
5 Dungeness B 1&2 AGR 2 x 545 MWe CLOSES 2018
6 Hartlepool 1&2 AGR 2 x 595MWe CLOSES 2 019
7 Heysham I-1 & I-2 AGR 2 x 580MWe CLOSES 2019
8 Heysham II-1 & II-2 AGR 2 x 615MWe CLOSES 2023
9 Torness 1&2 AGR 2 x 625 MWe CLOSES 2023
10 Sizewell B PWR 1188MWe CLOSES 2035
Total : 19 reactors approx. 11MWe
As far as new nuclear is concerned, the first off is EDF's Hinkley Point 'C', 2 x 1860MW reactors but proper construction has not even started yet, never mind the up-coming protests, (have a look at http://stophinkley.org/ and note the presence of Dr. C. Lucas MP).
The developer also still has to go through various hoops erected by the "Infrastructure Planning Commision", born under Labour on 1 March 2010, and murdered one year later on 10 March 2011 by Greg Clark MP (Conservative), to be replaced by the "Major Infrastructure Planning Unit" within the Planning Inspectorate. What could possibly go wrong?
Originally, the plan was supposed to have reactor 1 operational by the end of 2017 with reactor 2 operational in mid-2019. This required construction of the power station proper to commence December 2011.
We shall see.
The remainder of the proposed fleet of new nuclear power stations due for becoming operational during the period 2020-2025 are just pipe-dreams.
Sorry.
The blogger Guido Fawkes turned up proof that on the same evening Ms Pryce was speaking at a seminar organised by the LSE. His Commons appearance was preceded by a day's speculation on whether he would show his face at all.
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