Bishop Hill Consistent industrial policy
Oct 13, 2013 Energy: grid 
Winnington works by Berit Watkin (click image for full size and details)It is said that a consistent industrial policy is important, providing certainty for investors as governments come and go. In the UK, we have certainly been sending businessmen a consistent message of "Go away" and "Not wanted here".
The message seems to be getting through:
A chemicals factory which has supplied industries such as glass and soap-making for 140 years is to close because of "massive" energy bills, costing 220 jobs.
Tata Chemicals Europe said it was shutting its soda ash factory at Winnington in Northwich, Cheshire, which has produced the chemical since 1874, as it was being squeezed by rising gas prices.Job losses will be split across Winnington, support services and Tata's nearby Lostock plant, which will continue making soda ash and sodium bicarbonate - used in baking, detergents and reducing power station emissions.
Bravo Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg; bravo Mr Miliband.
Reader Comments (56)
My memory is that the price of crude oil was roughly 10X higher in 20007 than it was in 1998.. Not the same thing, but an indication that something dodgy was (probably) going on.
eSmiff
The data show that the cost per barrel of crude was about 20-25$pB in 1998, and had doubled in price by about 2004. I don't think it was anything more than increasing demand from China and India among others and OPEC profiteering It then peaked in 2008 at about 6x still fueled by increasing demand against stable production and by then speculation.
I still don't see the connection to Kyoto, quite the reverse in fact.
Sandys
Can we please tell the truth.
The cost per barrel of Brent crude was about $10 in 1998 and $100 in 2008.
http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=crude-oil-brent&months=300
Let me sum up the career of Margaret Thatcher. She destroyed everything she believed in. Namely the Victorian values of British enterprise. She did it because she was told to. Monetarism was the tool.
Margaret Thatcher did what she was told to? Come on!
Smiffy, for shame, you're letting your visceral hatred of Margaret Thatcher cloud your judgement.
As I stated Margaret Thatcher was not the 'mother' of global warming - it's conception was long before. Indeed she was one of the few political leaders who actually fought for the best interest of this country (which is probably what caused her political demise!) Unlike those currently in power and their predecessors who are now labouring to 'reduce demand' for power by making it hideously expensive with no thought for elderly and vulnerable who will be most affected.