Mr Huhne gets close up outside court this morning

Chris Huhne, Eastleigh’s colourful MP, has been bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on March 2 following a morning  appearance in the dock at Westminster Magistrate’s Court.

An uncharecteristlcially glum looking Mr Huhne appeared with former wife Vicky Pryce to answer charges that they consipred to  allow Ms Pryce to take a speeding rap on Mr Mr Huhne’s behalf – an allegation the MP has strenously denied saying he was ‘delighted’ the Police were investigating the matter.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3V3ldB2mhk

Earlier this month Mr Huhne resigned his £136,000 pa cabinet post to defend the charge.

Neither defendent enetered a plea and spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address – Mr Huhne gave his Dutton Lane residence as his home address  Both parties then left without wihtout making any comment to the press.

Eastleigh News is proud to stand behind our ‘innocent-until-proven-guilty’ MP while he defends himself against all charges although this in itself should not be construed as a suggestion that we feel Ms Pryce has been in any way untruthful.

(That should cover it. Ed)

Private Eye comes up with topical angle

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Eastleigh’s MP,  Chris Huhne, was forced to resign his post as the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change today.

At a press conference this morning, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that Chris Huhne and his ex-wife, Vicky Price,  would both face criminal charges for perverting the course of justice

The full text of the DPP’s statement is as follows;

A criminal complaint was made to Essex Police in May 2011, alleging that Ms Pryce had accepted responsibility for a speeding offence committed by Mr Huhne in 2003.

“That complaint was investigated by Essex Police and a file was passed to the CPS in late July 2011. The CPS advised that further investigations should be made, including obtaining certain material from a national newspaper.

“Those further investigations were made and, in October 2011, an order was made for the newspaper to produce material to the police. The newspaper appealed that order, as it was entitled to do, but subsequently consented to producing the material in question just before the appeal was due to be heard, on January 20 this year.

“All the available evidence, including the new material, has now been carefully considered by the CPS and we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce for perverting the course of justice.

“The essence of the charges is that between March and May 2003, Mr Huhne, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted that she was the driver.”

“Accordingly, summonses against both Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce have been obtained from Westminster Magistrates’ Court and those summonses will now be served on them. They are due to appear in court on February 16 this year.

“The decision in this case was taken by Mr Rene Barclay, a senior and very experienced prosecutor, in consultation with Sue Hemming, the head of special crime division and in consultation with me as DPP.

“Can I remind all concerned that Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce now stand charged with criminal offences and that they each have a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice their trial.”

Shortly after that announcement, Chris Huhne MP appeared outside his London home to issue the following short statement;

“The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision today is deeply regrettable.

“I am innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts and I am confident that a jury will agree.

“So as to avoid any distraction to either my official duties or my trial defence, I am standing down and resigning as Energy and Climate Change Secretary.

“I will of course continue to serve my constituents in Eastleigh.”

Clearly well prepared for this announcement, the Prime Minister moved swiftly to appoint Ed Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston & Surbiton,  to the Cabinet post vacated by Chris Huhne.

That appointment maintains the numerical balance between Lib Dems and Conservatives in the Cabinet, but Chris Huhne’s forthright approach in Cabinet meetings will be greatly missed by the Lib Dems.

The author of this article, Ray Turner, will be standing as an Independent candidate in the Hedge End, Shamblehurst, by election.

Published by Eastleigh News, 7 Northlands Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9AW
Promoted by Ray Turner, 20 New Cliffe Gdns, Hedge End, SO30 4AH

Chris Huhne’s decision not to attend the Parliamentary debate on the daylight saving bill looks inspired this evening.

Despite the Private Members Bill having a great deal of support, with more than 120 MPs staying behind to debate the proposal to move our clocks forward to GMT+1 in the winter and GMT +2 in the summer, the third reading of the bill was sabotaged by delaying tactics from a small group of MPs who were opposed to the change.

Daniel Vockins, the  Lighter Later campaign manager has written;

The problem wasn’t a lack of support. Even with over 120 supportive MPs in the Commons, the support of 90 national organisations, the UK government and strong public opinion polls, a couple of hostile MPs were able to run down the clock with a series of ‘wrecking amendments’ designed to waste time, so the bill never even went to a vote. The tricks they use to hold up the process – from quoting the bible to hiding in the Commons lobby – are an affront to the democratic process.

Today’s result illustrates everything that’s wrong with the Private Member’s Bill system.

We’re really angry about this, and many MPs feel the same way. More than 120 of them have given up a day of of constituency meetings to be in Westminster and support the bill. We fell foul of a broken system that’s crying out for reform, so our first job is to see if there’s another way to make this happen.

There are a few options on the table, from persuading the government to take up the legislation itself, to lobbying for more parliamentary time.

We’ve moved the clock change debate further forward than it’s been for decades, and shown how a whole new approach to campaigning can work. We’ve built something pretty special over the last couple of years, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

The Government has made it clear that it will not find any additional time in the current Parliament to debate this bill.

Christopher Chope, MP for Christchurch has explained the underlying problem and the reasons for todays delaying tactics, by saying;

“We know that the Scottish parliament and that MPs representing Scottish constituencies in this House do not support a change that would make winter mornings in Scotland even colder and darker than they are already.

“If this parliament changes the time zone for the United Kingdom against the wishes of the people of Scotland, that is going to give extra ammunition to those people in Scotland who are campaigning for an independent Scotland.”

Meanwhile, back in Eastleigh, away from the filibustering in Westminster, Chris Huhne was able to concentrate on constituency business.

And the news that the Sunday Times has dropped its High Court challenge concerning their evidence about that speeding case…

Chris Huhne MP and Chief Officer John Bonney

Chris Huhne MP showed his support for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to the environment at a recent visit to the Service’s Headquarters in Eastleigh on 13 January 2012.

At a meeting with Chief Officer John Bonney, Chris Huhne MP was presented with the Service’s polices and plans that outline its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through a range of new measures. Protecting the environment is one of the Service’s five priority areas, which have recently been updated and are to be presented to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority quarterly meeting on 9 February 2012.

In April, the Service clearly showed its commitment to the environment, with the opening of its new ‘green’ fire station in Winchester. The new station benefits from some proven eco-friendly technology including; ground source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, solar panels for water heating, and photovoltaic panels for power generation. In 2011 the building was certified as ‘excellent’ by BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). This is the world’s most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings, setting the standard for best practice in sustainable design.

The Service has also already been working with the Carbon Trust to reduce its carbon footprint and has identified a number of projects to help to achieve its target, including:

• installing double glazing and improving the heating and lighting at its headquarters and other buildings across the county;
• introducing automatic meter reading to improve the way it monitors the amount of energy it uses;
• using more efficient ways of travelling and avoiding the need to travel where possible; and
• using a network of staff, who have volunteered to be ‘environmental champions’, to help it to identify and put in place energy-saving improvements.

The Service has also achieved a 30% reduction in the number of fires (compared with its 2008 baseline) which has contributed to reducing its carbon footprint. Fewer fires means less travel, and this means less damage to the environment.

Chief Officer Bonney comments on the recent meeting and the Service’s commitment, “Despite the challenging financial climate we currently face, we want to make sure the environment does not suffer and we remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint. The environment remains one of our five priority areas for the next five years and we will look to reduce our carbon footprint through a number of measures. It is important to note that while some of these measures, including the new windows in our buildings across the Service, cost money they will reduce our energy consumption and therefore our outgoing costs. The opening of our ‘green’ Winchester Fire Station is a striking example of our commitment to ‘going green’ and we will continue to look for opportunities like these in the future.”

Chris Huhne MP comments on Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service environmental priority, “Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have always been good at putting out fires – and hence cutting carbon. Now they are going a step further to cut their emissions while they work.

I’m delighted that the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have taken a lead on this issue. This shows that by prioritising environmental concerns, cutting your carbon footprint and making your organisation more energy efficient, you can save money while going green.”

Chris added:

“Not only this, but the service has managed to reduce the number of fires over the last 4 years by nearly a third – a fantastic achievement! Eastleigh and Hampshire can be very proud of its fire and rescue service.”

Photo: HFRS

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An Eastleigh constituent is wondering this evening, what Chris Huhne might have written about her in a letter to Vince Cable.

Delighted to receive a swift reply to her message to Chris Huhne about the debate on Daylight Saving Time, which is due to be held in Parliament on 20th January, but much less impressed to read that Chris Huhne would not be attending the debate, the constituent was then astonished to see some redacted text in a copy of a letter that Chris Huhne sent to Vince Cable.

The text of the letter between Chris Huhne and Vince Cable reads;

Dear Vince

This is a constituency enquiry. I have been contacted by my constituent [Redacted] concerning British Summer Time and a potential one hour shift to GMT+1 and GMT+2

I have enclosed a copy of the email that I have received from my constituent, which outlines the issues she has raised in greater detail.

I should be grateful for any comments you may have on the subject and I look forward to receiving your reply in due course.

Chris Huhne MP

Encs

One obvious possibility for the redacted text is the name and address of the constituent, but why shouldn’t that constituent see her own name and address details..?

Whatever the reason for the redaction, even if it was just an over-zealous inking out of name and address details by a junior official, the effect is that the constituent is now puzzled as to what might have been written about her.

Police are urging prosecutors to bring proceedings against Eastleigh’s MP Chris Huhne and his former wife Vicky Pryce according to The Times.

The newspaper claims that Essex police believe they have enough evidence to charge the Cabinet Minister with speeding and perverting the course of justice and that his ex wife should also face the latter charge.

Earlier this year Ms Pryce had told The Times she had accepted speeding points on Mr Huhne’s behalf in 2003 – an allegation he has strongly denied.

The newspaper says that key evidence includes text messages the police found on a mobile phone belonging to one of the MPs sons which they claim indicate a conspiracy.

However the CPS has told the police they must produce more evidence – specifically the emails which had passed between The Times and Ms Pryce which it is believed contain the original allegations.

The Times have so far refused to produce these and are challenging the Police production order with a Judicial Review die to be heard in January.

Mr Huhne has said he expects any investigation to exonerate him and that he would not resign his post if charged.

Photo©Stephen Slominski

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Chris Huhne with party worker and Carina Trimmingham (R) canvassing the Aviary estate 2010

Eastleigh’s controversial MP Chris Huhne seems to be linked to more questions this time relating to his former press officer and partner Carina Trimmingham.

In a front page story in today’s edition of The Times Ms Trimmingham is reported to have been offering prospective employers access to contacts in the cabinet and government.

In her job application, she was reported to have invited her potential employer to “make use of my skills and contacts”.

Ms Trimingham told the newspaper

“As a former political journalist for 12 years, I have many friends and acquaintances in all parties.

“I have worked in communications and public relations, including with the Liberal Democrats. Obviously in any role I take, it will not involve energy and climate change (Mr Huhne’s department ed) and there will be no conflict of interest.”

The under fire couple from Dutton Lane have both been in the media spotlight recently.

Ms Trimmingham is suing the Daily Mail for harassment while in return the paper has been pressing the DPP over the length of time they are taking to decide whether or not Mr Huhne should face criminal charges over an alleged attempt to evade speeding points – an allegation he strongly denies.

On Monday the head of the DPP was bounced into issuing a statement suggesting a decision would be announced soon.

Buttercup Meadow at Boorley Green, photo Peter Facey

Eastleigh Borough Council’s consultation roadshow rolled into Boorley Green today, one of the villages that is most controversially affected by the draft local plan for the Borough.

The plan includes a proposal to build 1400 homes and a new local centre on a 78 acre site to the North East of Boorley Green. A new road is intended to serve this development, bypassing the existing route through the centre of Botley.

The decision to build on this particular site, in preference to an alternative site in Allington Lane, was taken by Eastleigh Borough Council in September.

All seemed calm and civilised when Eastleigh News popped-in to the roadshow this evening, perhaps because none of the local Councillors were present at the time.

Feelings were still running high, but were not directed at the planners.

One anonymous Boorley Green resident said to Eastleigh News that she was disgusted with Keith House, amazed that Chris Huhne would not comment on local issues and felt thoroughly betrayed by the Lib Dems. Referring to the earlier  ”Homes for local people” consultation that tested public opinion before the decision to build at Boorley Green was taken, she said that;

The consultation was a sham, as the decision to build on Boorley Green had already been taken. Cllr House admitted at the end of the Council meeting, that he didn’t want to build on the alternative Allington Lane site, because of the additional costs of providing transport infrastructure.

The meeting that she was referring to was the full Cabinet meeting of 15th September 2011, for which the reasons for the decision to build at Boorley Green in preference to Allington Lane are minuted here.

Eastleigh News enquired about the 6000 households that are on Eastleigh’s housing list, asking if there was much list inflation and whether that had been taken into account when drawing up the plans for the Borough.

List inflation occurs, for example, when households register with several neighbouring Local Authorities in the hope of getting a home with one of them.  If Winchester and Eastleigh have the same household on their respective housing lists, two homes are thought to be needed in southern Hampshire when in fact only one is required to cater for that household. The question is are we building more homes than is strictly necessary…?

The answer from Eastleigh’s planners was;

Yes there is some list inflation, but we don’t check our housing lists with those of neighbouring authorities to try to eliminate it. It is not just the housing register that determines how many houses are needed, natural change in population has an impact too. The housing that is specified in this plan includes some social housing, but considerably less than the 6000 households on Eastleigh’s housing register. List inflation consequently isn’t an important factor.

Eastleigh News then asked about the “strategic gaps” between villages. The draft local plan indicates that the site at Woodhouse Lane in Hedge End was formerly part of a strategic gap, but that site is now to be used to build 1000 homes. The Lib Dems claim to have saved the remaining strategic gaps, but how safe are they really…?

The answer from Eastleigh’s planners was;

They’re safe from development for the duration of the plan, which runs until 2029, but these areas could be allocated for development in a future plan.

Is there any way of securing these strategic gaps, by turning them into Country Parks perhaps, asked Eastleigh News…?

To which Eastleigh’s planners replied;

The difficulty is that it would cost millions to create a new Country Park. We’re actually quite well off for Country Parks in the Borough, with Itchen Valley, Manor Farm and the Royal Victoria Country Parks all being very accessible.

Eastleigh residents have four more opportunities to attend one of these roadshows and ask their own questions.

Comments on the draft local plan can be supplied at one of these meetings, via the online consultation form, by emailing localplan@eastleigh.gov.uk

or via post to

Planning Policy & Design,Eastleigh Borough Council,Civic Offices,Leigh Road,Eastleigh,SO50 9YN.

The closing date for comments is 3rd January 2012

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Read Ray’s Blog: The complete works of TGRWorzel

The leader of Eastleigh Borough Council has warned Chris Huhne that his latest u-turn on Feed in Tariffs – the amount producers like Eastleigh Council get for surplus solar energy – will “undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on business and jobs” and that council plans to install more solar panels will have to be axed.

Just weeks ago Keith House posed for photos with Mr Huhne as they celebrated the launch of Eastleigh’s first solar PV scheme but in a strongly worded letter, exclusively leaked to Eastleigh News, Mr House  has now described Mr Huhne’s recent decision to slash tariffs as “almost hysterical in approach” and “crude”.

He goes on to claim it will “damage individual household finances” and “derail public confidence in the carbon reduction programme”.

The council had planned to install more PV units on the Pavilion in the Park, Y Zone, Bowls Club and Wessex House but the council leader says it is ‘unlikely’ these will now go ahead.

Mr House finishes by suggesting that councils and public bodies should be exempt from tariff reductions and urges Mr Huhne to “think again”.

Mr House is also leader of Mr Huhne’s constituency party and as such is usually a close ally of the MP, even sharing pizza with him while on the campaign trail but recently he has appeared increasingly uncomfortable with Coalition policy.

Last May Mr House co-authored a letter to The Times attacking the Coalition spending cuts, while several leading Eastleigh Lib Dems have left the party. Last year a group 21 disaffected councillors wrote an open letter to the Daily Echo to voice their concerns over the rise in tuition fees.

See also ‘House in Open Revolt’
Keith House’s letter to Chris Huhne

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Chris Huhne at a recent retrofit conference

Chris Huhne has claimed “There is no credible alternative” to his plans for ‘green growth’.

Mr Huhne made the remark while addressing a recent meeting of Solent LEP – a taxpayer funded Quango which puts unelected corporate business men and estate agents at the heart of the local planning policy decision making process.

(So you can be sure they will acting in your best interests.)

The speech entitled “The Economics of Climate Change” promotes Mr Huhne’s vision of   green growth as the only way to insulate our economy from future oil shocks and was originally posted on his website www.chrishuhne.org.uk .

However comments appear to be disabled on the page, so Eastleigh News has republished the speech in full below in order to give ordinary people a chance to voice their opinions, ideas and concerns.

Mr Huhne has admitted he regularly reads Eastleigh News – so although he has made it clear he doesn’t want to publish anything on here personally – you can rest assured your words of wisdom will be read the man himself!

Thanks very much. I’m delighted to be here.

Today, I want to set out three key arguments about the economics of climate change that I believe must be crucial to our national vision of the future.

First, we must get off the oil hook – and onto clean, green growth. The science demands it. Our survival requires it. And our living standards will benefit from it.

Second, this low-carbon revolution can offset fiscal tightening and turbo-charge jobs. It is a large part of the answer to the question of where the jobs and growth are coming from.

And third, our economy will be more stable and secure as energy imports wane.

Together, these arguments make up the case for ‘green growth’: investment in the infrastructure, industries and technologies that can change our economic future for the better.

Introduction

When the Coalition came to office, our economy was unbalanced. Bubble finance had inflated property and other asset prices.

Government spending was sustainable only if taxes and GDP were sustainable, and they were not.

More than a quarter of the rise in income  – in GDP per head – between 1997 and 2007 was reversed during the financial crisis and recession.

Our economy was also suffering a deeper malaise: manufacturing’s share of our economic output halved between 1990 and 2010.

Our share of world exports fell from 4.4 per cent in 2000 to 2.8 per cent in 2009. Our exporters had been hit by a decade of high sterling.

Unemployment is higher than we would like. Our economy has brains and brawn to spare. The cost of capital is low. Savings are at record levels.

To stay globally competitive, we must seize this opportunity to rebuild our economy on firmer foundations.

But the solutions that worked in the past are blocked off. We cannot pump-prime the economy as we did in the fifties and sixties, because the deficit is too big.

Nor can we deregulate the financial system as our pathway to growth, spurring more credit as we did in the eighties. We can’t afford another credit crisis.

Instead, we must turn to something else. A path that can deliver a dynamic, vibrant economy that is ready to compete in the next global growth sector.

I believe that green growth – investing in low-carbon technologies, industries and infrastructures – is the best way to rebalance our economy and build a better future for Britain.

Green growth boosts productivity, innovation and efficiency. It creates new markets, and builds investor confidence and stability. And it is in the UK’s direct economic interest to encourage it.

There are four compelling reasons why.

Innovation and investment

Firstly, a low-carbon economy presents an opportunity, not a cost. Investment in our clean energy future should not be mistaken for a cost to the economy, or the public purse.

Instead, as Lord Stern has shown, it can be strong driver of economic growth. Boosting demand, and creating new supply in a sustainable way.

Globally, the low-carbon goods and services is worth £3.2 trillion, and employs 28 million people. It is growing by 4% a year, faster than developed world GDP, and will accelerate.

Investment in renewables now outstrips investment in fossil fuels.

This extra inward investment brings jobs and sets the conditions for growth. It also drives learning-by-doing: making companies and economies more productive.

Resource efficiency

The second reason to choose the low-carbon path is self-evident: it is more resource efficient. It uses less energy and fewer resources per unit of GDP.

No wonder 72% of global CEOs actively support policies that promote economically, socially and environmentally sustainable growth. They know that a green economy is also a more resource efficient economy. That saves money, boosts the bottom line, and helps shareholder returns.

The Treasury and the Department for Business estimate UK businesses could save up to £23 billion a year from using raw materials, energy and water more efficiently.

Let me give a practical example, from just down the road. The Ford Transit plant cut its energy bill by £2.3 million or 28% in one year, by tightening seals on compressed air systems and turning unused machinery off.

Companies realise that locking in high-carbon technology is a risk for the future. Sticking with yesterday’s fuels could be tomorrow’s headache. With rising energy prices and finite supplies of fossil fuels, not many want to bet against low carbon.

There is a third reason to pursue green growth. As the first two oil shocks showed, Businesses hate unpleasant surprises.

Green growth can protect our economy – reducing our exposure to price shocks. That is good for every business in the land.

After all, dependence on oil for transport and gas for power puts us at the mercy of international markets over which we have no control.

We import 27 per cent of our energy. That vulnerability  is projected to double by 2020. And even home-produced oil and gas exists in a world market. It can still give us a nasty price shock. So what is to be done?

We should head off the challenge of price and supply insecurity by getting off the oil hook. That way we can protect our consumers from high prices, and our economy from price shocks.

That means investing now to secure benefits in the future.

Some countries already have a head start. Electricity prices in France are set to rise by just 3% this year. Compare and contrast with Britain, where prices are rising by three times as much. It is no surprise that France is the European country with the least reliance on fossil fuels, and enjoys some of the lowest prices – 9.4 % below ours.

Yes, we have a long way to go. But every long journey begins with a first step.

For us, that means building cleaner power plants, and encouraging the electrification of heating and transport.

These are the fundamental components of a strategy that will deliver green growth.

Timing is everything

The fourth and final reason to pursue such a strategy is simple: we cannot risk being left behind. Green growth is in our direct national interest.

One of the great myths surrounding the economics of climate change is that we are somehow going it alone. Why should we be the only ones to sacrifice, the sceptic says, when no-one else is committing to carbon cuts or green growth?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Some 89 countries have renewable energy policy targets. 81 countries worldwide have feed-in tariffs, to reward small-scale generation. And 73 have biofuels mandates.

China already has a target to reduce emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45% between 2005-2020.

By the time High Speed Two connects the 163 kilometres from London to Birmingham, China will have built 16,000 kilometres of high-speed rail.

Korea’s National Strategy for Green Growth commits 2% of annual GDP to green growth programs and projects. The $46 billion Korea is investing in its ‘Green New Deal’ will create 960,000 jobs by 2012.

Profound technological shifts favour countries that are well prepared. Change first drives productivity growth in the innovating sector. Lower prices for low carbon equipment then drives greater investment, and production is re-organised around the new technology.

UK advantage

Those are potential markets in which UK companies can thrive.

Britain has a strong engineering, research, and science base. We have significant renewable resources in wind, wave and tide. And we have a proud history of converting innovation into commercial success.

In areas like offshore wind, wave and tidal power, we can consolidate our considerable natural resources and competitive advantages.

So what could all this mean for Britain? A Potsdam-Oxford study for the German government found that more ambitious emissions targets bring considerable benefits for the UK economy: a 7.3% GDP boost, and a 36.6% increase in total investment.

We have a clear incentive for aggressively pursuing green growth. Greater investment will raise our long-term productivity and improve our infrastructure. This is the safe foundation for sustainable growth.

Josef Ackermann, the chief executive of Deutsche Bank, puts it plainly:

‘Make no mistake: a new world order is emerging. The race for leadership has already begun. For the winners, the rewards are clear: Innovation and investment in clean energy technology will stimulate green growth; it will create jobs; it will bring greater energy independence and national security’.

We would be mad to miss this boat. Turning our backs on the next global growth sector when the world’s economic dynamos are pursuing it so strongly would be economically suicidal.

Green growth will make our economy more efficient, more secure, and more competitive.

So how can we encourage it?

Our approach

Everyone has a role to play. It is for government to set the right framework to allow growth to prosper. Markets will follow long-term policy signals. Government can unlock private investment at scale.

Let me give you three examples of what we are doing.

Firstly, we are using policy instruments to create new markets.

The Green Deal is our pioneering programme to refit British buildings, offering energy efficiency improvements with no up-front costs to consumers.

Millions of homes and businesses right across the country could benefit. It will also create a whole new market in energy efficiency, with implications for supply chains across the country. The number of people employed in insulation alone could soar from 27,000 to 100,000 by 2015.

Secondly, we are making existing energy markets fairer, clearer and more stable.

Take the electricity market reform project. Over a quarter of our power plants will close over the next decade. OFGEM estimates over £200 billion must be spent to secure our energy supplies by 2020. This is double the normal level of energy infrastructure investment needed – and a key part of our growth story.

Our reforms will reduce the risks for investors in low-carbon by setting out a clear and stable investment framework – and creating the right conditions to attract the capital needed to transform the system.

By offering certainty and clarity, we can secure the scale of investment we need. By attracting in new investors, we also increase competition in the UK energy market.

The Green Investment Bank will also help. It will be the world’s first national development bank dedicated to the green economy, using public money to unlock private investment in the companies that will deliver green growth.

Its reach will extend far beyond the City: steering major new sources of capital towards low-carbon projects, including offshore wind and energy efficiency.

Conclusion

We need a vibrant, new economy.

One that is resource-efficient. That saves money. That boosts productivity. Where British innovation and research can deliver new success in engineering and manufacturing. With dynamic low-carbon markets driving the products and processes that will build the future.

There is no credible alternative.

Delinking carbon and growth is the biggest structural shift in the global economy for decades. The most important since the information revolution.

Our low-carbon economy will be more efficient, more competitive, and more resilient.

By getting off the oil hook, we can deliver clean, green growth. We can offset fiscal tightening and turbocharge jobs. And we can make our economy more secure.

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