Ed Davey
|
This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch. |
Ed Davey was appointed UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in February 2012, following the resignation of Chris Huhne.[1] He was previously Consumer affairs minister in the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
In 2006 while in opposition Davey had said, “Nuclear power will only be possible with vast taxpayer subsidies or a rigged market.”
Yet in May 2012, Davey presented a draft Energy Bill containing complex 'electricity market reform' provisions that were roundly criticised by leading commentators as heavily tilted in favour of nuclear power.
Davey in an interview conceded the market was rigged, but insisted it would not benefit only nuclear. "It’s going to help all low-carbon technologies," he said. [2]
Potential conflict of interest
Davey’s older brother, Henry Davey, is a corporate partner and energy expert at Herbert Smith, a leading London law firm that has a longstanding relationship with the nuclear giant EDF Energy and close links to companies such as Centrica and BP. Its website declares it is, ‘proud to be at the vanguard of next generation nuclear in the UK’.
Henry Davey has reportedly been involved in briefing reports on Feed-in Tariff cuts for solar power and UK electricity market reforms. According to the Telegraph, in 2005 he offered the following diagnosis on the UK’s energy prospects: “The Government urgently needs to address its energy policy as there are potentially serious security of supply issues on the horizon,” he said. “Getting the right commercial incentives for the market to respond to the future challenges, coupled with a clear steer of where nuclear will sit within the long-term energy mix, is essential.” [3]
A DECC statement said: “In accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, the Secretary of State has provided his Permanent Secretary with a full list of his interests, including details of his brother’s employment as a partner at Herbert Smith LLP, which will be recorded and published in the List of Ministers’ Interests in the usual way. Appropriate safeguards are being put in place to avoid any conflicts of interest.” [4]
Resources
- George Monbiot, The energy bill is misleading, manipulative and destructive, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 31 May 2012 12.02 BST guardian.co.uk
- Geoffrey Lean, Energy Secretary Ed Davey: charged with keeping the lights on, 25 May 2012
Notes
- ↑ New Ministerial Appointments, number10.gov.uk, 3 February 2012.
- ↑ Geoffrey Lean, Energy Secretary Ed Davey: charged with keeping the lights on, 25 May 2012, accessed 6 June 2012
- ↑ Emily Gosden Are the lights about to go out all over Britain?, The Telegraph, 31 Mar 2012, acc
- ↑ Ed Davey declares brother's close links with Centrica, BP and EDF, Mon 06 Feb 2012
