Or Else What?

A general election is less than eighteen months away; hence the Lower Miliband has decided to make a bit of a show of caring how many core voters freeze to death this winter. He has politely requested that utility companies pass on energy price cuts to their customers "as soon as possible". The Lower Miliband claimed to be in favour of "both dynamic markets", as in the banking sector, "and a strategic role for government" in greasing the dynamism with public money. The Lower Miliband did not threaten the directors with fines or the stockholders with lie detector tests. The Lower Miliband did not preach the end of a something-for-nothing welfare state for the rich. The Lower Miliband did not threaten legislation to separate corporate tax dodgers from their offshore accounts. The Lower Miliband said that, unless the energy companies got around to not overcharging people at some point in the future to be determined by the convenience and inclination of the energy companies, he would use his powers. The Lower Miliband is New New Labour's Energy and Climate Change Secretary, so his powers are no doubt fairly formidable as long as you don't shout, threaten or stare at them too hard.