The Conservatives were in a buoyant mood in Manchester this week for their first party conference off the back of a general election victory since 1992.

Chancellor George Osborne pulled off a coup by getting Labour peer Lord Adonis to agree to join the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). The NIC was originally proposed by Labour but Osborne wants to be seen to “shake Britain out of its inertia” by establishing the body to drive key infrastructure projects and “get Britain building”.

Alongside this, an extra £5 billion will be given to major infrastructure schemes, including energy projects.

This is all part of the Tory plan to take control of the centre ground, and attract disillusioned Labour voters – Osborne even admitted as much in his keynote speech.

Part of this appeal is to be seen to be fighting for the consumer and the environment, and energy secretary Amber Rudd clearly got that message.

She reiterated the party’s desire to see shale gas come on stream, expressed delight that subsidised onshore wind had been halted, and unveiled plans to give the energy ombudsman “real teeth”.

With central heating season now underway, being seen to clamp down on the energy suppliers and being on the side of the consumer is an important move for Rudd.

Water minister Rory Stewart is also looking out for the citizens of Britain – but in terms of protecting and looking after the environment, poetically stating the countryside is “good for the soul”.

While no new water policies have been revealed, Stewart and environment secretary Liz Truss have made it clear they are putting in the groundwork now ahead of the 25-year environment plan, which will include aspects of water upstream reform and catchment management, and is due to come out towards the end of next year.

The Conservative message is clear: you elected us to do a job for you, and we’re getting on and doing it.

 

Key quotes:

“Defra is a treasure trove of data, research and information, which for too long has been hidden away. “
Environment secretary Liz Truss

“We choose to take on these things not because they’re easy, but because they’re hard.”
Chancellor George Osborne

“While people support a transition to a low-carbon future, they don’t support this at any cost. There is no magic money tree.”
Energy secretary Amber Rudd

 

Key question:

What needs to be done to boost customer trust in the energy market?

Minister for constitutional reform John Penrose attacked suppliers as “immoral” for relying on inertia and said problems needed to be “prevented before they occur in the first place”. Later the same day, energy secretary Amber Rudd unveiled plans to give the Ombudsman Services “real teeth” to tackle patterns of bad behaviour.

 

Overheard at the conference…

● “National Grid is running a Bentley 365 days a year, and I think a Ford Focus would be fine.”
Former PPS to the energy minister, Laura Sandys

● “I vow I’m going to get George Osborne out of his hard hat and into wellingtons.”
Environmental Audit Committee member Rebecca Pow