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News, gossip and insight from PoliticsHome Editor Paul Waugh
Friday 30th March 2012 | 12:57
Voter volatility
Volatility is the theme for today, in more tragic ways than some imagined.
The news that a woman has suffered 40% burns after decanting petrol in her kitchen could well cause real problems for ministers.
Already Ed Balls has hinted that the accident is the Government's fault, stating 'some people are paying a very, very heavy price' for the 'panic' caused by 'schoolboy' tactics of No.10 and others.
Labour MP Karl Turner has also explicitly called on Francis Maude to quit over the incident.
Maude's allies are already pointing out that he didn't for a second advise anyone to do anything daft with petrol in their kitchens.
But now that Unite has announced there will be no strike over Easter, it may be a matter of time before a minister finally announces a U-turn on advice to motorists. The Unite announcement may give sufficient cover to call a halt to the fuel wars and for a minister to say the public no longer need to 'top up' their tanks.
That would look messy, yet another bit of advice to add to all the others previously, but it would at least draw a line under the affair - for now.
November 2010