More Omnishambles! @ No 10

"He's done it again," Arturo chuckled.

"Done what?" I asked

"Engaged his mouth before using his brain!"

The 'he', in question, was none other than our 'Boy David' Cameron. He really did use his mouth without consulting his brain at Prime Minister's Questions, this week. The furore has yet to die down!

On Wednesday, at PMQs, he was asked by MP, Chris Williamson, what action he would take:

to help people reduce their energy bills

The Prime Minister, in somewhat of a flurried state, announced:

We have encouraged people to switch, which is one of the best ways to get energy bills down. I can announce, which I am sure the hon. Gentleman will welcome, that we will be legislating so that energy companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121017/debtext/121017-0001.htm#12101758000008

Now - that was some statement: "we will be legislating so that energy companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers"! Praises rang out through the Nation! Energy companies, whose profits have been doing 'very nicely thank you', would be brought kicking and screaming into giving out fair deals! So that's alright then!

Is it, really? Nothing is ever quite straightforward with this ConDem Government! There have been endless u-turns to policy announcements - too many to list! So! Was this latest Prime Ministerial statement going to herald another such u-turn? Let's see ...

Poor old Ed Davey, Minister of State for Energy, must have been bemused by his Boss announcing energy policy without being forewarned! He was happily addressing the CBI one day after the Prime Ministerial bombshell. Had to be a bit careful, didn't he? Did't want to upset the apple-cart, as they say! So - what exactly did 'Poor Old' Ed Davey say? He said of those dastardly 'Big Six' Energy Companies:

They will have to tell their customers every year what is the best available tariff

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/9616950/Energy-policy-shambles-as-David-Cameron-and-Ed-Davey-outline-opposing-plans.html

No mention of the beloved PMs words "... have to give their lowest tariff"! Clever bit of footwork - or rather mouth-work - by 'Poor Old' Ed Davey who must have had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach!

The plot thickened still further. There was another creature who was landed in the mess even more than 'Poor Old' Ed Davey. That was the actual Minister for Energy himself John Hayes! Whilst his boss, the Secretary of State was no doubt eating caviar with the CBI, Hayes was left to face the full force of questioning in the House of Commons, from Caroline Flint, Shadow Energy Secretary.

To be fair he gave, like the Winnie-the-Pooh lookalike that he is, a rather endearing performance! He stumbled through his answers without giving any indication he had a clue about what the PM had announced.

This was what Caroline Flint said:

Yesterday, the Prime Minister threw energy policy into confusion, causing chaos — I ask the Secretary of State to make a statement on the matter.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121018/debtext/121018-0001.htm#12101828000004

Hayes, in his best 'Winnie-the-Pooh' voice, replied:

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday, I am pleased to confirm that we will be bringing forward legislation to help energy consumers to get the best deal. We have already regulated, we have plans to improve competition and simplify tariffs in the retail market process, and we will improve liquidity and competition in the wholesale market, through the Energy Bill, in weeks rather than months. A number of options are being considered... This is a complicated area, and we will have discussions with the industry, consumer groups and the regulator in order to work through the detail.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121018/debtext/121018-0001.htm#12101828000004

Poor John Hayes!! As an article in 'Power Engineering' stated:

Mr Hayes admitted he did not know the Prime Minister was planning to announce legislation to force energy companies to offer consumers the lowest possible tariff.

http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/10/19/cameron-intervention-caused-chaos.html

Arturo was beside himself with glee at this 'omnishambles'. He told me:

"You know, mi old pal! 'Boy David' Cameron is a well trained PR man! He delights in having the skills of a Public Relations expert. But in my youth, I knew a doctor who used to write on his prescriptions when appropriate, 'to be given PR'. Do you know what 'PR' meant, in that context?"

I shook my innocent head. I knew Arturo would enlighten me! He always does. He continued:

"PR, in medical parlance, means 'per rectum'. In other words medicine is given via the patient's bum! Now you and I know, don't we, that things come out of your bum as well! The pity is that 'Boy David' Cameron obviously gets his mouth and bum confused!

Now that really is food for thought! It's more omnishambles at No 10!

Talking of food - we're going to the kitchen of a nice little Italian restaurant tonight!

'Ciao!'