New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
29 March 2012updated 04 Oct 2023 9:57am

Will Maude be allowed out?

Cabinet Office minister accused of provoking fuel panic.

By George Eaton

It’s been a troubled week for Francis Maude, normally one of the safest pairs of hands in the coalition. On Monday, the Cabinet Office minister described demands for David Cameron to publish a list of donors who had dined at No. 10 as “a bit of a nonsense”, only to be made to look a fool when the Prime Minister did precisely that a few hours later.

Then yesterday he advised motorists to put “a bit of extra fuel in a jerry can in the garage” to prepare for a possible fuel strike. He was soon rebuked by the Fire Bridges Union and the AA for encouraging panic buying [some petrol stations ran dry last night] and for ignoring the safety risks of storing fuel. As FBU general secretary Matt Wrack noted: “Those without garages may be tempted to store fuel in the home. In the event of a fire in the house or a neighbouring property, it would be disastrous.”

A day of high farce ended with transport minister Mike Penning admitting on Newsnight that Maude had made “a mistake”.

“You can’t store that amount of petrol. It was a mistake by the cabinet minister. He didn’t understand the size of a jerry can. He has apologised since.” [Not that anyone has heard Maude’s alleged apology].

Incoveniently, then, the government is today publishing an update to the Open Public Services white paper [also known as Cameron’s plan to “privatise nearly everything”], a project that Maude is responsible for. It remains to be seen whether he will be let anywhere near the airwaves.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

There is now an acknowledgment among Conservatives that this has been the government’s worst week, with several days of damaging headlines from the papers. And the polls continue to reflect as much. Labour retains a 10-point lead over the Tories in the latest YouGov poll and its share of the vote has risen to 44 per cent, the highest level since last August.

Content from our partners
Can green energy solutions deliver for nature and people?
"Why wouldn't you?" Joining the charge towards net zero
The road to clean power 2030