Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Caroline Flint gives Lord Mandelson the smackdown over energy bills

Peter Mandelson’s criticisms of Ed Miliband’s energy policy are probably quite useful for the Labour leadership. They certainly seem to think so. Caroline Flint was dispatched this morning to remind anyone watching BBC News that Labour are the only party standing up for the consumer, while the Tories and naughty Labourites like Mandelson are busy sticking by their evil energy boss chums. She said:

‘I know Lord Mandelson has financial interests in energy companies. I don’t know if he’s just speaking to them, but I’m speaking up for consumers and businesses, who are going to be helped by Labour’s policies.’

She twisted the knife a little bit more, adding darkly:

‘Now Lord Mandelson may not have to worry about his energy bills, but a lot of consumers and businesses do.’

I wrote yesterday about the need for the Tories to come up with something in Manchester that shows they also care about consumers and businesses worried about their energy bills. Otherwise Labour will be able to claim that only it understands and sticks up for hardworking families up and down the country, and that everyone else cares about their chums.

Isabel Hardman
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Isabel Hardman
Isabel Hardman is assistant editor of The Spectator and author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians. She also presents Radio 4’s Week in Westminster.

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