Energy minister John Hayes switches to No 10 role John Hayes may help Cameron improve his frayed links with MPs. David Cameron has moved his controversial minister John Hayes from the department of energy and climate change, bringing him to No 10 to help improve the frayed links between the prime minister and his Tory MPs. Michael Fallon, recently installed as business minister, will take the place of Hayes, in a move that should improve damaged coalition relations within the department. There had been a running war between the Liberal Democrat energy secretary, Ed Davey, and Hayes over renewable energy, especially policy on wind farms. A new permanent secretary may have realised that the department was becoming dysfunctional, and those in the energy business said it was increasingly difficult to understand the direction of government policy, including on subsidies, prices and targets. Fallon, a free marketeer, is no supporter of green energy subsidies, but has the ability to get on with a range of ministers, and is generally seen as one of the most effective ministers of state. He is regularly deployed to act as a general party spokesman. Hayes is said to be close to the mood in the Commons tearoom and is likely to make sure that Cameron gets to hear messages from disgruntled backbenchers on time. There is a cadre of Tory backbenchers who feel dispossessed and increasingly fearful that Cameron is not a winner. Relations between Davey and Hayes deteriorated so much at one point that Davey disclosed to the Guardian that he asked the prime minister to remove responsibility for green energy from Hayes. He wrote to Cameron warning him that if Hayes continued in the role they would be open to legal challenge over any decision he made on the subject, since his views were so prejudiced. Davey sought legal advice from his department, which confirmed that Hayes's presence increased the danger of the department's decisions on renewable energy being exposed to judicial review. The formal warning was sent to the prime minister's private secretary by Davey's private secretary. Davey told the Guardian he feared even an unsuccessful legal challenge could be disruptive at a time when the government was trying to create certainty for energy investors. Davey had wanted to remove Hayes from all responsibility for renewables. The prime minister rejected the warning and refused to remove Hayes from his post. It is likely that tHayes's move will allow the prime minister to improve relations within the coalition and shore up his position within his own party. Hayes would be one of the first to know if any serious plot was under way to unseat Cameron. Fallon will retain his job at the business department, renewing the idea that the business department should take a direct interest in energy. At one point the bulk of energy issues were kept inside the business or trade department. Hayes will keep his ministerial salary, and be elevated to the privy council in two concessions designed to soothe his disappointment. Hayes will be based in the Cabinet Office. Fallon has a track record of supporting green energy in less difficult economic times. He brought forward a green energy private member's bill in 2008 that would have allowed councils to set green energy targets for new homes. There is bound to be controversy that Hayes is going to be paid a ministerial salary at taxpayer's expense to carry out what is clearly a party political job to protect Cameron from a possible rebellion by his backbenchers. Hayes had difficulties with others in the energy department besides Davey. The other energy minister, Greg Barker, a Tory, was at odds with Hayes over policy, suggesting the whole idea of bringing him into the department to replace the highly regarded Charles Hendry was misconceived. Davey fought a constant battle to ringfence the work of Hayes, and limit the scope of his portfolio. Barker defended renewable energy only this week, condemning Daily Mail "hysteria" over the impact of renewables on energy prices. He told Sky News this week: "The average family fuel bill is just under £1,300. The cost of windmills is £9, £9 for onshore wind currently and about another £9 to support the expansion of offshore wind. Now, that figure is going to rise through to 2020, yes, but let's have a little bit of perspective and not Daily Mail hysteria. The ministerial change comes at a bad time for the department as it battles with energy shortages, doubts over new nuclear power stations and an energy bill that still awaits its passage through parliament.