"Britain was accused yesterday of siding with mobile phone companies to
block an EU plan for a dramatic cut in charges designed to bring in
cheap holiday calls next summer.

Proposals for a strict cap on so-called roaming charges for calls made
abroad were rejected by Margaret Hodge, the Industry Minister, who said
it would impose too much of a burden on phone companies.

Mrs Hodge argued yesterday for a six-month window for mobile firms to
come up with voluntary cut-price packages for consumers before the EU
set mandatory limits.

Viviane Reding, the EU Information Society Commissioner, said
Britain's stance would sink her plans for an enforced cut of up to 70
per cent in tariffs in time for next year's summer holidays. "

and

"Sharon Bowles, a Liberal Democrat MEP, accused Mrs Hodge of seeking to
protect mobile company profits. "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2500160,00.html

I think it would be very difficult to find an example of a politician
more naively impressed by industry canvassing.

Though Ms Hodge points out that average roaming charges dropped by a
few percent last year, and that voluntary changes by the mobile
companies are the way to go, it seems to have completely dropped off
her radar that many roaming charges had previously doubled and trebled
within the previous few years.