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Chris Huhne's departure changes cabinet dynamics Chris Huhne's departure changes cabinet dynamics
(about 7 hours later)
It is no disrespect to Ed Davey, the new energy secretary, to say that the departure of Chris Huhne changes the political dynamics of the cabinet, and in a way many Conservative cabinet members will welcome. It is no disrespect to Ed Davey, the new energy secretary, to say that the departure of Chris Huhne changes the political dynamics of the cabinet, and in a way many Conservative cabinet members will welcome. Davey can do his own theatrics, once famously leading a group of Liberal Democrat MPs out of the Commons chamber in protest at the lack of a referendum on the EU. He also made it clear that he was not, as employment minister, going to jump to rightwing Tory demands to change strike laws.
Davey can do his own theatrics, once famously leading a group of Liberal Democrat MPs out of the Commons chamber in protest at the lack of a referendum on the EU. He also made it abundantly clear that he was not, as employment minister, going to jump to rightwing Tory demands to change strike laws. He has shown in his own constituency how through effective local campaigning it is possible to eviscerate a once strong Conservative political base. He is not a pussy cat, and is as tribal as the next Lib Dem.
He has shown in his own constituency how through strong local campaigning it is possible to eviscerate a once-strong Conservative political base. He is a not a pussy cat, and is tribal as the next Liberal Democrat. But temperamentally he is different from Huhne, who has always openly treated the coalition as a political necessity rather than an ideological fusion.
But temperamentally he is different to Huhne, who has always openly treated the coalition as a political necessity rather than an ideological fusion. Huhne crossed swords with not just the Conservative chairman, Lady Warsi, during the AV referendum, but also the chancellor, George Osborne, and the home secretary, Theresa May.
Huhne crossed swords with not just the Conservative chair, Lady Warsi, during the AV referendum, but also the chancellor, George Osborne, and the home secretary, Theresa May.
Without being reckless, he did not shrink from battles, as attested by the large number of Conservatives and commentators cheering his departure, in some cases oblivious to the personal family tragedy being played out in public.Without being reckless, he did not shrink from battles, as attested by the large number of Conservatives and commentators cheering his departure, in some cases oblivious to the personal family tragedy being played out in public.
But Huhne also favoured the principle of the coalition, arguing for it in private inside his party before the election and acknowledging after the election that the only viable option was a deal with the Conservatives. In office he recognised that some of the alleged divisions between the Orange Bookers and social democrats were more theoretical than real.But Huhne also favoured the principle of the coalition, arguing for it in private inside his party before the election and acknowledging after the election that the only viable option was a deal with the Conservatives. In office he recognised that some of the alleged divisions between the Orange Bookers and social democrats were more theoretical than real.
But he had that indefinable big beast quality that put him on a par with Clegg and Cable, making him a voice on economics and Europe inside the cabinet to which people listened, even if they disagreed. He had an intellectual self-confidence as a trained economist, businessman, journalist and former MEP. But he had that indefinable big beast quality that put him on a par with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable, making him a voice on economics and Europe inside the cabinet to which people listened, even if they disagreed. He had an intellectual self-confidence as an economist, businessman, journalist and former MEP.
In a year in which the pressure on the deficit reduction plan is likely to increase rather than decrease, his voice will be absent. Similarly, although the Treasury hotly denies it, the pressure on government resources is putting a brake on the green agenda. Conservative policy thinkers such as Neil O'Brien are pushing back on renewable energy in favour of cheaper options, and calling for greater deregulation of the energy market. In a year in which the pressure on the deficit reduction plan is likely to increase rather than decrease, his voice will be absent.
Huhne, in three big speeches before the summer, tried to stem the anti-climate-change tide. In a clarion call, he warned that world temperatures were already on course to increase by 1.3 degrees, and a low carbon path had to be agreed worldwide by 2015 if the two-degree tipping point was to be avoided. "This is the last parliament with a chance to avoid catastrophic climate change," he warned. Similarly, although the Treasury hotly denies it, the pressure on government resources is putting a brake on the green agenda. Tory policy thinkers such as Neil O'Brien are pushing back on renewable energy in favour of cheaper options, and calling for greater deregulation of the energy market.
Yet Davey will need time to make his mark, and green groups will watch him to see how he fights his corner. He will have to make a rapid judgment on what tactics to deploy. Clegg gave him a glowing reference on Friday, and in a speech last month signalled he would like to see green taxes increase. Huhne, in three big speeches before the summer, tried to stem the tide against action on climate change. In a clarion call, he warned that world temperatures were already on course to increase by 1.3 degrees, and a low-carbon path had to be agreed worldwide by 2015 if the two-degree tipping point was to be avoided. "This is the last parliament with a chance to avoid catastrophic climate change," he warned.
But some doubt Davey's deregulatory mettle. One angry Liberal Democrat executive member, Gareth Epps, blogged that Davey was not fit to be a cabinet minister, pointing to the way in which he had allegedly failed to stand up to the Pubcos, the big pub landlords. Yet Davey will need time to make his mark, and green groups will watch him to see how he fights his corner. He will have to make a rapid judgment on what tactics to deploy. Clegg gave him a glowing reference on Friday, and in a speech last month signalled he would like to see green taxes increase.
But some doubt Davey's deregulatory mettle. One angry Lib Dem executive member, Gareth Epps, blogged that Davey was not fit to be a cabinet minister, pointing to the way in which he had allegedly failed to stand up to the pubcos, the big pub landlords.
Epps accused Davey of "colluding with lobbyists acting for the big pub corporations, who he allowed to write large parts of a government report in response to the BIS [business, innovation and skills] select committee".Epps accused Davey of "colluding with lobbyists acting for the big pub corporations, who he allowed to write large parts of a government report in response to the BIS [business, innovation and skills] select committee".
So Davey will have to show he is his own man and, like his predecessor, capable of giving a lead inside the EU, the most important negotiating theatre for a British climate change minister. A first sensible step will be to retain Huhne's strong special advisers, Duncan Brack and Joel Kendrick. So Davey will have to show he is his own man and is, like his predecessor, capable of giving a lead inside the EU, the most important negotiating theatre for a British climate change minister. A first sensible step will be to retain Huhne's strong special advisers, Duncan Brack and Joel Kenrick.
But there is a wider worry for the Liberal Democrats. There is little evidence in the polls yet, but inside the party an opinion is slowly emerging that the path to salvation lies in being more distinctive: for instance, by setting out negotiating demands for the budget in public. Clegg is drawing together a new ideological map for his party through his recent big speeches. But there is a wider worry for the Lib Dems. There is little evidence in the polls yet, but inside the party a slow mood an opinion is slowly emerging that the path to salvation lies in being more distinctive: for instance, by setting out negotiating demands for the budget in public. Clegg is drawing together a new ideological map for his party through his recent big speeches.
The concern must be the consequences of a drawn-out court case. The trial would be of unfathomable darkness for the individuals involved, but for the public a cruel sport in which the Liberal Democrats could revert to a laughing stock, a sort of Rinka, Exmoor, Jeremy Thorpe saga all over again. The concern must be the consequences of a drawn-out court case. The trial would be of unfathomable darkness for the individuals involved, but for the public a cruel sport in which the Lib Dems could revert to a laughing stock, a sort of Rinka/Exmoor/Jeremy Thorpe saga all over again.
Huhne – who is innocent until proven guilty – will also have to make a judgment on whether to stay out of the political limelight pending his court case, and focus on nursing his marginal seat of Eastleigh. There has been talk of him becoming the standard bearer for the left in the party, but that seems unlikely, and unwise in his current precarious state. Huhne – who is innocent until proven guilty – will also have to make a judgment on whether to stay out of the political limelight pending his court case, and focus on nursing his marginal seat of Eastleigh. There has been talk of him becoming the standard bearer for the left in the party, but that seems unwise in his current precarious state.
Clegg – who has the powers of patronage in this area – has made it clear he is willing to contemplate Huhne's return to government if he is cleared of the charges. But he will also be hoping what has become such a combustible and tragic marriage breakup does not do more to envelop him. Clegg – who has the powers of patronage in this area – has made it clear he is willing to contemplate Huhne's return to government if he is cleared of the charges. But he will also be hoping what has become such a combustible marriage breakup does not do more to envelop him.