Today in Politics: Green and black
Whitehall whispers reach me about a bout of pre-Budget tension between two Cabinet ministers. As Alistair Darling prepares for what he hopes will be seen as a "green Budget" tomorrow, his allies were rather surprised at the timing of the call by John Hutton, the Business Secretary, for Britain to build "clean" coal-fired power stations to keep the lights on, which I revealed in yesterday's paper. This has angered environmentalists, who are asking whatever happened to "joined up" government. "It is like calling for peace and preparing for war," said Andrew Simms, policy director at the New Economics Foundation.
The whisperers suggest that Hutton might have been indulging a revenge incursion into the Chancellor's territory. Darling surprised him by intervening over soaring bills for gas and electricity at a time when energy companies are making massive profits. Darling's move prodded the regulator Ofgem into announcing an inquiry but Hutton felt he might have been tipped off because he is responsible for energy.
The two ministers also have a different attitude to the super rich. Hutton is making a speech today saying that Labour should celebrate huge salaries rather than question their morality. Darling, in contrast, has told his City critics they should apply a "next door neighbour" test when justifying their huge bonuses. This turf war could run and run.
Comments