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Being sent out to do the media rounds in the midst of a difficult story is generally seen as an unavoidable – if unenviable – part of a government minister’s job. But with increasing frequency in recent years, ministers simply haven’t turned up – instead being empty-chaired as they avoid the airwaves.
Not a single minister appeared on national breakfast TV or radio on Friday to defend the government as news broke that energy bills are set to rise by 80%.
Energy regulator Ofgem announced at 7am a change in the price cap that will see the average household’s yearly bill rise from £1,971 to £3,549 from October.
On a typical weekday, a minister tours the TV and radio stations to be questioned on burning issues of that day, usually appearing on Sky News, BBC Breakfast, ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB), Radio 4’s Today programme, LBC and others. On Friday consumer rights champion Martin Lewis filled that void, saying it was “staggering” the announcement had been made with no help announced, adding: “It’s not good government, it’s not good politics.”
Broadcasters were forced to “empty-chair” ministers on 12 January 2022, before one of the most crucial prime minister’s questions Boris Johnson had faced in his premiership.
