No gimmicks here

I would had some sympathy for Gordon Brown's claim that improving energy efficiency is better than short-term gimmicks on fuel payments if he hadn't tried and failed to introduce those same short-term gimmicks.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that Labour backbencher Fabian Hamilton has warned the government of the political consequences of not doing something to help people in the short term. At the bottom of the piece is a staggering statistic from the Local Government Association, which argues that energy efficiency should be prioritised, funded by energy companies:

The association - which represents councils in England and Wales - says its research has found that the companies increased pay-outs to shareholders by more than a quarter of a billion pounds over the past year.

That is increased payments by a quarter of a billion. Does anyone think we're being ripped off?

Reverse spin

The Independent is one of a number papers stating that the government's proposals to give families a £150 "fuel rebate" were leaked because a civil servant was overheard discussing them on the train.

The culprit is identified as Brian Pender, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. He's probably quite embarrassed. We get so used to this sort of proposal being "leaked" on purpose, it's hard to believe that anyone could do something so careless - and counterproductive.

The Indy also covers the alleged damage to the housing market caused by speculation over stamp duty. The government is right to say that it is not its fault if the media create this type of speculation, but if, as the Indy describes. it was No. 10 that fueled it, it's another own goal.