We have become accustomed to hearing gas associated with phrases such as "fossil fuel dependency", "volatile international markets", "rollercoaster prices" and even funding hostile or dictatorial regimes. While there is no doubt that climate change is a real threat and we need to do our bit in reducing emissions, continuing that journey towards net zero, the language used around gas has too often ignored a simple reality: tens of millions of British households and businesses still depend on it every single day.

That is why I welcome the publication of the Government's interim response to its Gas System in Transition consultation.

In his foreword, Energy Minister Michael Shanks makes an important acknowledgement. He states: “The gas system will still play an important role in our energy system for decades to come."  He goes on to reference the millions of households heated by gas, the industries that rely upon it and the continuing role gas plays in supporting the electricity system.

These are not the words of someone seeking to demonise gas. They are the words of a government recognising the practical realities of energy policy.

The report also accepts that maintaining infrastructure capacity, resilience and security of supply may require intervention as domestic production declines and import dependence grows. (Rosebank might be an interesting decision in light of these comments).

For those of us who have long argued for a pragmatic, consumer-focused transition, this is an encouraging development. Decarbonisation remains the destination, but energy policy must also reflect how people actually heat their homes today; how manufacturers produce goods for sale and how the demand for flexibility grows as our share of renewables increases.

The debate is finally beginning to move beyond slogans and towards a more balanced conversation about how we maintain affordability, security and resilience while reducing emissions. That can only be a good thing.