Blue and Orange Make Greenish, Sort Of

Here is how Daveybloke, the Cuddly Conservative, is going to improve on New Labour's dismal record in stopping profiteering by energy companies: he isn't. New Labour's policy of letting energy companies charge what prices they liked, and thus allowing poor people to make a responsible choice between heating and eating, was criticised by both the Liberal Democrats and Daveybloke's Cuddlies while (and, it now appears, because) they were in opposition. Both the Liberal Democrats and Daveybloke's Cuddlies demanded an inquiry, for which there are now no plans. In compensation, Daveybloke's Cuddly Coalition may decide to reduce winter fuel payments; so in the event of another unpredictable cold snap in January or February, there may well be a corresponding reduction in poor people, especially among the elderly ex-resources who are now doing little but contribute to the pensions crisis. By this means, no doubt, Daveybloke's Big Society will be purged of those selfish and backsliding types who hasten global warming by using electricity from coal-fired power stations, thus creating the demand for pollutive energy which has done so much to hinder market forces in their benevolent quest for future renewability.