National News
Davey sets out green credentials
1:45am Monday 6th February 2012
New Energy Secretary Ed Davey will seek to establish his green credentials, declaring there will be "no change in direction or ambition" after the departure of Chris Huhne.
In a concerted effort to reassure environmental groups and Liberal Democrat activists, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will join him on a visit to bolster the message.
Mr Huhne, who earned a reputation as a fierce defender of the Government's climate change priorities, resigned on Friday to fight charges of perverting the course of justice.
The promotion of Mr Davey from a role as a business minister raised fears among some campaigners that the agenda might lose out to Treasury cuts under his command.
A note of caution was also sounded by former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell against any watering down of commitments on a policy area of "iconic" importance to the party.
And the scale of the challenge facing Mr Davey was underlined by the revelation that 101 Tory MPs had written to the Prime Minister calling for a cut in taxpayer subsidies to onshore wind farms.
Mr Davey, who a spokesman pointed out had campaigned on environmental issues since he was a student, will begin his first full day in the job meeting graduates looking to take green jobs.
"I have long believed in the need to marry our economic and environmental agendas," he will say.
"Greening the economy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for the wallets, purses and pockets of every British citizen too. My priorities are very simple: green jobs, green growth and getting the best deal for energy bill payers.
"My department is already implementing bold and ambitious reforms - like electricity market reform and the Green Deal - to unlock private investment, drive innovation and build a resilient, green, competitive economy. It's now my job to see those through. There may have been a change at the helm, but there'll be no change in direction or ambition."