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"Hugely optimistic and positive speech from Dave setting out the Con- servatives' plan for the next five years." UTILITY WEEK | 24TH - 30TH APRIL 2015 | 13 E L E CT I O N C O U N TD O W N : 1 3 D AY S TO G O The Tories are hoping their alliance with the Wiz- ard of Oz has given them a heart to go with the brains the public perceive them to have in terms of fiscal responsibility. Their Australian general election campaign strategist Lynton Crosby (aka the Wizard), is behind their campaign to get David Cameron re-elected as prime minister, ideally with a Con- servative majority. Crosby is hoping to show the Conservatives in a different light, and to usurp Labour as the party for working people, with pledges to give the NHS "whatever it needs", alongside a retro "right to buy" promise, and a pledge for a tax-free minimum wage. As for energy, a certain amount of shape- shiing has taken place, with Lib Dem policies, a Labour policy, and even something from Ofgem claimed Conservative material. The one true blue policy that stands out is the commitment to "halt the spread of subsidised onshore windfarms". This has been slammed by Renewable UK deputy chief executive as "breathtakingly illogical and idiotic", while Greenpeace said it would result in higher energy bills because it effectively ruled out the cheapest renewable technology. There is a little wiggle room here for Cameron, as what constitutes a new subsidy could be questioned, and the final say will rest with local communities, rather than the secretary of state. There is also a nod to the prime minister's commitment to go "all out for shale gas", with plans to "safely develop" the technology, and also for continued support for oil and gas. Pinched from the yellow side of the coalition comes the promise to promote competition in the energy market to keep bills low, and a promise that climate change commitments will be met – although this has been blue-washed with the caveat "as cheaply as pos- sible to save you money". One day switching has been claimed from the Lib Dems, cou- pled with the policy introduced by Ed Miliband when he was energy secretary, for every home to have a smart meter installed. Completing the set, the Tories also claim credit for the current investigation into the energy market, being carried out by the Competi- tion and Markets Authority (CMA) aer a referral from Ofgem. Taking credit for the changes in advance, the manifesto says it will make all the changes recommended by the CMA in order to improve the market for consumers. The brief mention of water was the party's support the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Pinching ideas from their coalition partners, and keeping the promises vague, means that should the Conservatives be looking to bunk up with another party again to form a government, energy and the environment are unlikely to be sticking points, especially if it is with the Lib Dems, who are bullish about retaining most of their seats. Further to the right of the Tories, Ukip is hoping for a bit of a reinvention. Leader Nigel Farage called his party's 2010 manifesto "complete drivel", but is proud of this year's, fully costed, offering. It puts the party firmly against renewables, unless they "can deliver electricity at competitive prices", and so plans to remove all subsidies for them. As a bonus this would "level the play- ing field" for coal plants, forming part of a renaissance in coal as a Ukip government abandons the EU's Large Combustion Plant Directive and reneges on the Climate Change Act. Support for fracking completes a pro-fossil fuel stance. Ukip also proposes scrapping the Department of Energy and Climate Change, merging its "essential powers" into another government department, as part of its efficiency savings across Whitehall. Unite calls the plan "beyond barmy". UKIP Utility Week Lobby produced in partnership with: "This manifesto is a des- perate throw of the dice from a party that knows it can't win the election." "On the major issues of the day - immigration, the economy, the NHS and living standards – the establishment parties have let us down, time and time again." Nigel Farage, Ukip party leader "It's the time to build on the progress we have made. We offer a good life for those willing to try – because we are the party of working people." David Cameron, prime minister (Conservative) Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury (Lib Dems) Boris Johnson, London mayor and parliamentary can- didate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Conservative) CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO Conservatives: 307 seats