20:20 hindsight - a wonderful thing

Henry Rummins

25 July 2011

Like millions of people up and down the country, I've been riveted by revelation after revelation on the phone hacking scandal.

I've been devouring blogs and rolling coverage of the arrests and resignations and have been glued to Twitter.

During his statement to Parliament last week David Cameron talked a lot about hindsight - and it got me thinking about a clever suggestion from a Friends of the Earth supporter.

Steve Gerrish wondered this: with 20:20 hindsight what would a prime minister in the year 2020 say about decisions the present Government is making on energy and climate change?

So let me transport you to the House of Commons on a balmy July afternoon in 2020, for a much anticipated speech by the Prime Minister on the fight against climate change....

"Mr Speaker, with permissions I would like to make a statement.

"Over the past 2 weeks we have seen a severe shortage of gas in this country. I am sure the House will not need reminding about the blackouts people have faced.

"Mr Speaker, three quarters of our electricity is generated by gas-fired power stations. The situation overseas means our supply is badly disrupted and we have seen widespread shortages.

"As it happens, the seriousness of the situation has been somewhat muffled by the fact that high prices mean huge numbers of our population can no longer afford to turn their boilers on.

"But on behalf of the Government I would like to apologise to the British people.

"Nine years ago Parliament changed the planning laws in this country to fast-track new gas and nuclear power stations.

"Mr Speaker, we were wrong. For that, I am sorry. My Government and I made a grave misjudgment.

"It was this that has lead to our over-reliance on gas-powered stations. With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight we should have invested in wind turbines, solar panels and wave energy.

"The situation in Germany and Denmark, Mr Speaker, shows us that renewable sources of power can keep the lights on - even in a time of extraordinary crisis such as this.

"Our fuel bills are skyrocketing. So are our carbon emissions. And we are at the mercy of foreign gas suppliers.

"Mr Speaker, my Government has failed to keep the lights on. We had the chance to do something about it in 2011 and we failed."

Thankfully, this is just fiction - for now.

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Henry Rummins, Communications & Media Team