‘Not a nanny state’: minister says Britons will not be told to use less energy
People will not be told to use less energy this winter, the climate minister has said, adding: “We’re not a nanny state government.”
Graham Stuart’s remarks come amid reports No 10 has blocked a public information campaign to encourage people to consume less.
Asked if people should use less energy, Stuart told Sky News: “We are not sending that out as a message. All of us have bills, of course, and the bills have gone up.” He said the government had stepped in to “protect” businesses and families from rising energy bills.
Stuart later outlined why a general message to use less energy would “probably make no difference”.
“We’re also hesitant to tell people what they should do when we’re not a nanny-state government,” he told LBC. “What we are prepared to do is talk to the big energy users and talk to consumers with smart technology about rewarding them for reducing energy at the peak times.”
The Times reported that Liz Truss has ruled out launching an energy-saving public information campaign despite warnings planned blackouts could hit the UK if power plants cannot get enough gas to keep running.
The business secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is believed to have backed a £15m campaign this winter with measures designed to help people save up to £300 a year, including lowering the temperature of boilers, turning off radiators in empty rooms and advising people to turn off the heating when they go out.
The Times quoted a government source describing the campaign as a “no-brainer” and said No 10 had made a “stupid decision”, but it added Truss is said to be “ideologically opposed” to such an approach as it could be too interventionist.
The prime minister said in her party conference speech that she would not tell people what to do.
Read more on theguardian.com
