The Government has acknowledged that blackouts are a possibility this winter, as energy supplies are tested to the limit. While denying it is a likelihood, energy minister Graham Stuart confirmed he was planning for all eventualities.
It comes after the National Grid said a worst-case scenario could involve three-hour domestic blackouts to ensure the network does not collapse, harking back to the Seventies, when shortages were precipitated by miners’ strikes and the oil crisis.
Fears over the tightness of supply margins are what led the Business Secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, to support a public information campaign to encourage households to consume less energy. This would have produced the double benefit of saving supplies and money. Number 10, however, has vetoed this proposal. Yet the Government must be honest with the public. If ministers believe we must consume less and that ordinary people have a small but important part to play, they should say so.
Even if Britain stumbles through the coming months unscathed, the supply crunch should serve as a catalyst to plough on with our pivot to net zero through investment in renewable energy and nuclear power. In doing so, we can ensure our energy supply is secure, affordable and low carbon — the holy grail of energy policy. In the meantime, get the torch batteries and candles ready, just in case.
Truly off the rails
It is a damning indictment of Britain’s railways that Avanti, beset by widespread cancellations and passenger unhappiness, has been awarded a six-month extension by the Department for Transport to run the West Coast Mainline.
Commuters who have had to take one of their services in recent times — beset by patchy service, long waits and standing from London to Manchester and beyond — would be forgiven for viewing this as a reward for failure. Problems have stemmed from a shortage of drivers, who have refused to work overtime, resulting in the sudden cancellations that have blighted rail travel this summer. At one stage, the Manchester to London service was reduced from four trains an hour to one.
Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan deemed a six-month extension to be the least-bad option. But that will come as little relief for passengers, paying sky-high ticket prices for rock-bottom services.
Interconnectivity is a crucial plank of our national infrastructure, making under-performing train operators members of the anti-growth coalition. If Avanti, or any other operators, continue to fall below rail travellers’ modest expectations, they should be stripped of their franchise.
Where the art is
London is looking forward to welcoming the Frieze Art Fair, a five-day art extravaganza, back to Regent’s Park.
While some objects may be out of range for the typical household budget, there is still plenty for everyone to see and be inspired by. Indeed, Culture Editor Nancy Durrant’s top tip is to stride into the free commercial galleries, pick up a paper information sheet and simply enjoy the art.
