The Department for Energy and Climate Change promises to be a lively place. Ed Miliband's new department was formed from the merger of two arms of government that were barely on speaking terms.

And now Joan Ruddock, MP, the former chair of CND, has been lobbed into the mix as a junior minister. For a Government championing the biggest expansion of nuclear power in Britain in 40 years, it is an interesting choice.

Pro-nuclear officials from the Business Department were aghast. The word from Whitehall Place is that Mr Miliband is fully signed up to new nuclear and there is no question that he will alter course. He will need all his political skills to ensure the climate is not too stormy.

Times Recommends

• Gazprom brands Ukraine 'a barbarian' in gas row
• Services sector raises fears over UK jobless
• Retailers surge as profits survive sales plunge