Conservative party has no clear energy policy, says Tory MP

The Conservative party has no explicit energy manifesto in place just weeks before the May general election because energy and climate change policy is not a priority, according to Tory MP Phillip Lee.

The outspoken member of the energy and climate change select committee said that his own party has relegated energy policy to “second fiddle” behind issues surrounding health and immigration, despite Lee “trying desperately” to convince his fellow Tories otherwise.

Speaking at a pre-election debate at the Energy Institute, Lee told delegates that he had asked for the party’s official policy on energy concerns but that he was not able to find one.

By contrast at the same event Labour MP Alan Whitehead, also a select committee member, detailed his party’s consistent policy points first put forward by the opposition party over a year and a half ago.

Labour plans to freeze retail energy prices while reforming the market through a break up energy companies’ generation and supply arms, an overhaul of the regulator, and a new regime for the trading of wholesale energy.

Lee added that the Conservative party’s efforts as junior coalition partner in the Department of Energy and Climate Change since taking power in 2010 had not resulted in “much success” in reducing carbon emissions.

“If I’m honest, I don’t think we’ve done particularly well,” he said of the government’s electricity market reform.

He said that while the intent of the reform was “admirable” the reform sought to achieve “too much on too many fronts”.

Lee said that government would have greater success if it opts to focus on one problem at a time, resolve it, and then move on to the next.

Specifically Lee says the UK should focus its efforts on energy efficiency and energy independence.

To achieve greater energy independence Lee said the UK should develop the country’s nuclear and shale gas potential. Energy efficiency – to be tackled through the UK’s housing policies – could underpin a more energy secure future, Lee argued.

On the retail side of the market Lee said energy policy makers need to find “a new retail model” based on a local co-operative supply arrangement.

“They’re value destroying, not value creating,” he said of the big six energy suppliers.

“I know it sounds strange for a Conservative MP to advocate a co-operative approach…. But we need to find a new retail model,” he added.