Liz Truss is expanding a public information campaign to save energy this winter despite rejecting Jacob Rees-Mogg’s plans over Government concerns they were too “nanny state”. The Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the Energy Secretary is working on a plan to advise people and businesses how to “use energy more efficiently”.
Government sources had previously ruled out a public information plan amid reports Downing Street was blocking a £15 million campaign proposed by Mr Rees-Mogg. Downing Street now says plans from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) will be incorporated into an existing scheme.
The advice will come following warnings there could be planned three-hour blackouts to ensure the national grid does not collapse over pressure from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Conservative former pensions minister Guy Opperman urged Ms Truss during Prime Minister’s questions to “have a nationwide mailout campaign” on energy reduction.
Ms Truss replied: “Well (he) is absolutely right and I know the Energy Secretary is working on a plan to help companies and individuals use energy more efficiently. We’re also working on this across Government, I was delighted to speak to my friend yesterday and I hope we’ll be able to start this going in No 10 straight away.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said they are considering how to “further expand” the existing “help for households” advice website with guidance from Beis. Pressed if Mr Rees-Mogg’s proposal is being folded into the current plans, the spokesman said campaigns are “iterative and we’ve been discussing how to expand it”.
The Times had reported his own campaign had been blocked by Downing Street over Ms Truss’s fears it would be too interventionist. Asked on LBC last week why the PM would block a public information campaign, climate minister Graham Stuart told LBC radio ministers are “hesitant” to tell people what to do, adding: “We’re not a nanny state Government."
