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UtILItY WEEK | 6th - 12th March 2015 | 13 E l E ct i o n c o u n td o w n : 6 1 d ay s to g o coalition scenarios with Ed Miliband as prime minister 74% the chance of Ed Miliband being prime minister, according to the Populus/Hano- ver election outcome predictor LaboUr Looks nortH (Lab/snP) tHe Centre-Left get it togetHer (Lab/Lib) rainbow CoaLition With the SNP predicted to sweep the board in Scotland and win more than 40 seats, it will have a significant role in the new Parlia- ment. Despite shadow chancellor Ed Balls insisting this option "is not part of the plan", this is one of the likely outcomes, with the SNP's more socialist ideology chiming with elements of the Labour Party. The SNP strongly supports expanding renewable genera- tion, and is staunchly opposed to nuclear power – so low carbon generation would be a priority for this government, even if the new nuclear programme grinds to a halt. The fracking revolution would also stall, with the SNP opposed to its development. The key will be in what senior roles the SNP targets, with Defra, Decc, the Home Office, and the MoD all being eyed up. environment secretary: maria Eagle may be sacrificed for an snP candidate energy secretary: Caroline flint, but one of the shadow Decc team will likely have to make way for an snP candidate If Ed Miliband leads Labour to be- come the largest single party, but falls short of an outright majority, he may turn to the Lib Dems for a helping hand and form a centre left coalition. The Lib Dems will play up their experience and moderating impact on the Tories, while Labour will be eager to reclaim the keys to Number 10. The promised energy price freeze could prove to be a big stumbling block, with both sides calling it a red line. Labour is determined to introduce it and Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey has been leading his party's attacks against. However, if this not- inconsiderable obstacle can be ne- gotiated, the two sides have some complementary goals – especially surrounding environmental protec- tions, Suds and tougher fracking regulations. energy secretary: Caroline flint – with one of Labour's headline policies being on energy, they will not give up this cabinet seat environment secretary: maria eagle water minister: Dan rogerson might keep his post * The Green Party, which could add to its single Westminster seat in May, could be needed to help get this coalition over the majority threshold. The party is likely to want a say on environmental issues and could be offered ministerial role at Defra. (Lab/Lib Dem/green/ snP/ Plaid Cymru) If the deficit of seats cannot be overcome by two parties, it may be up to a rainbow coalition. However, similar attempts by a Gordon Brown-led Labour in 2010 broke down and a repeat of the failure would be likely again in 2015 because of what Lib Dem Douglas Alexander called "fundamental dif- ferences" between the parties. However, the SNP and Plaid Cymru are said to have held talks with the Greens over forming a "progressive alliance" in the event of another hung parliament, so could act as a single bloc. The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) polled its members to explore their views on climate change and energy policies. The research found: • 92 per cent of IEMA members agree with a call for the next government to strengthen its commitment and investment in relation to future climate risks. • 66 per cent say they do not believe that gas derived from fracking in the UK has a role to play as a "strategic transi- tion fuel" in the nation's future energy provision. • 72 per cent of those said the next government should priori- tise investment in energy con- servation schemes. • 23 per cent – the combined vote for the three main political leaders (Cameron, Clegg, and Miliband) when IEMA members were asked which party leader is the strongest leader of climate policies. • 51 per cent say they think Natalie Bennett of the Green Party demonstrates the strongest leadership on climate change. • 83 per cent say the UK's current carbon targets are either suitably ambitious or under-ambitious. • 63 per cent say they believe there is a need for the next government to rationalise the number of energy and carbon schemes affecting the very larg- est organisations. Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment polled utility wEEk lobby poll trackEr 27 Feb 2015 – yougov poll party share change (from 20 Feb) Conservatives 34% +2 Labour 34% +1 Lib Dems 8% -1 Ukip 14% -1 Green 5% -1 Other 5% 0 How the coalition might look in seats LD – 20 Ukip – 5 Green - 1 Others - 19 How the coalition might look in seats SNP - 30 Green - 1 Ukip - 2 Others - 12 Labour - 290 Labour - 295 SNP - 40 LD - 35 Tories - 275 Tories - 275 UtilityWeekLobby Lab Lib Dem snP green Plaid Cymru