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UTILITY WEEK | 28TH OCTOBER - 3RD NOVEMBER 2016 | 11 Policy & Regulation Policy & Regulation CONSERVATIVE For Labour, those interventions would be to force suppliers to call the standard vari- able tariff a penalty tariff and make them put customers who have been on it for more than 18 months on to their cheapest deal, and inform them of the best deal on the market. The water sector has also been warned, and the party has talked about breaking up the vertically integrated companies – as well as in the energy sector – saying this will ensure customers get a better deal because trading will become fairer and more transparent. In Glasgow, the SNP was determined to ensure Scotland retained access to the EU single market, at any cost to the British union. First minister Nicola Sturgeon made it clear that a second independence referen- dum is being considered, and the dra bill is being consulted upon. The SNP also made sure it positioned itself closer to the EU than to Westminster, praising European legislation as the bargain- ing between London, Edinburgh and Brus- sels is about to begin. When it comes to domestic matters, the SNP is proud of Scotland's environmental record and is eager to maintain it, although Roseanna Cunningham MSP, cabinet sec- retary for environment, climate change and land reform, said the EU has played an important role in its achievements. In terms of energy, the thorny issue of transmission charges raised its head again. Hard or soft boiled Brexit Despite prime minister Theresa May's protestations before the Conservative conference that there is much more to talk about than Brexit, the UK's immi- nent exit from the EU dominated the discus- sions in Birmingham. The main talking point was the hint that the new PM is leaning towards a hard Brexit, rather than retaining a closer 'EU-lite' relationship with the union. Creating some certainty Talk of adopting the "acquis" – or all EU laws into British legislation is designed to give businesses some confidence and certainty once the UK's EU exit has been completed. This includes the adoption of EU environmental legislation. Flexibility There was talk at the Tory confer- ence that one size will not fit all when it comes to UK policies. There were discussions about specific deals for specific regions, that would allow them to build on their strengths. The carbon capture and storage sector welcomed this, seeing it as a way that the north east can continue to develop the technology. L ABOUR Trying to show public unity Unity was the buzzword at conference, as Labour got to grips with Jeremy Corbyn seeing off Owen Smith's leadership challenge. However, the Parliamentary Labour Party remains disgruntled, something that many believe has been demonstrated by the slow pace of Corbyn's reshuffle, for which he has struggled to find support. (Green) power to the people Amid the rebel- lion and internal unrest, Labour did manage to press ahead with setting out its goals to encourage decentralised, renewable power in which the public have a stake – or are even outright owners. Dealing with Brexit Brexit was a thorny issue for Labour, largely because of the view that its leader led a lacklustre remain campaign. The challenge for them now is to form a coherent view on how they will hold the government to account on getting the best deal. SNP Soft Scottish Brexit First minister Nicola Sturgeon is adamant that Scotland will retain access to the single market, and has laid down the threat of a second independence referen- dum as a backstop to ensure it is kept. Keeping single market access could mean Scotland will be an independent nation by March 2019. Devolution The SNP has been gunning for more powers to be bestowed on Holyrood, often saying that its aims are being stifled by Westminster and their control of the reserved powers. Devolved powers would include the ability to change the transmission charging regime, but for now the SNP will continue to lobby the UK government to amend the system. Intervention "Free markets don't work and state-controlled markets don't work," said Callum McCaig. He was pitching the idea that "constant changes" and interventions have to be made to markets – especially the energy market – to ensure the outcomes politicians want, including protecting vulner- able consumers, are achieved. Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos Mori , said: "Economic optimism had been recovering aer the shock of Brexit, but this research shows that a fall in the value of the pound will still concern the public, while it is the groups that were supporting Remain who are most wor- ried about the impact of Brexit. But Labour so far is not taking advantage, as the Conservatives' honeymoon continues – for the moment at least." KEY POINTS FROM EACH CONFERENCE Callum McCaig, the SNP's Westminster busi- ness, energy and industrial strategy spokes- person, led calls for the UK government to levelise the costs to reduce bills for remote Scottish consumers. Although Brexit has dominated the party conference season over the past few weeks – for obvious reasons – a secondary message was very clear from all of the parties. Inter- vention, intervention, intervention. It's just that the leaders have different views on what intervention means. VOTING INTENTIONS, APRIL 2003 - OCTOBER 2016 How would you vote if there were an election tomorrow? Apr 03 Apr 04 Apr 05 Apr 06 Apr 07 Apr 08 Apr 09 Apr 10 Apr 11 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr 14 Apr 15 Apr 16 Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05 Oct 06 Oct 07 Oct 08 Oct 09 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 12 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 15 Oct 16 60 2005 GENERAL ELECTION 2010 GENERAL ELECTION 2015 GENERAL ELECTION CONSERVATIVE Cameron elected (Dec 05) Miliband elected (Sep 10) Base: about 700 British adults; before July 2015 the turnout filter is "all certain to vote"; from July 2015 turnout filter is "all 9/10 certain to vote and always/usually/it depends vote in general elections". Corbyn elected (Sep 15) Brown as PM (Jun 05) May as PM (Jul 16) LABOUR UKIP GREEN LIB DEM 50 40 30 20 10 0