tagged w/ Energy Supplies
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The EU energy treaty could see dramatic changes being made to the way energy is distributed, but opposing MPs are split over their views on the impact it will have on the UK.
Ministers won a Commons vote on the energy rules in the EU treaty, even though the UK was accused of a "massive failure".
Alan Duncan, Tory frontbencher, was obviously cynical of the treaty, claiming that it could 'force the UK to divert energy to other states in an emergency." He explained that under the new treaty, a gas dispute in Bavaria could essentially mean gas being rationed in Birmingham, labelling parts of the treaty as "oblique, mysterious and evasive."
However, UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks said that the EU now had to speak with "one voice" on energy, unifying to tackle prominent issues like climate change and secure supplies.
Although the Tories have seemed critical of the voted-in changes, the Lib Dems spokesperson, Steve Webb, praised the notions saying that the "policy objectives of tackling climate change and securing energy supply seem to us entirely laudable," and followed with a blatant snub towards Tories that "they (voted-in changes) seem to us ones where the national interest and the European interest are in harmony, not in conflict, and therefore rather than being hostile to them we should be embracing them."
So, does Alan Duncan have the right angle saying that the treaty will be evasive and offer our energy supplies to anyone, or are the Lib Dems more 'liberal' approach a more viable response?
The EU energy treaty could see dramatic changes being made to the way energy is... more
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