A FEW months ago, Peter Luff (left) helped to inflict a rare defeat on the Government.

Ministers had given their backing to the environmentally-friendly Home Energy Conservation Private Member's Bill, and it was expected to enjoy a smooth passage through Parliament.

But, at the last minute, Tories tabled a successful amendment, which was deemed "unacceptable" by Environment Minister Michael Meacher, to the Bill.

It set rigid targets for energy savings of 30 per cent by 2010, rather than the "aspirational" ones favoured by the Government. If Ministers set a target, they have to give local councils cash to help them meet it - and no money was available.

The result was that Labour MPs - under orders from whips - were forced to kill the Bill, which was the work of their colleague Des Turner.

Afterwards, I bumped into Mr Luff - who had engineered the defeat - in the Members' Lobby and suggested he had "wrecked" a perfectly good piece of legislation.

Now - Stephen Byers-style - those words have come back to haunt me.

Because Peter, a man with a very long memory when it comes top these sorts of things, has just received a letter from a host of green organisations thanking him for his actions.

And he has kindly mailed a copy to myself. It reads: "We have followed your speeches and actions and in particular wish to express our appreciation for your vote on the 30 per cent principal aim."

I am now hoping my luck does not run out in the same way as it did for Mr Byers. He never recovered from the day he dubbed the trade union movement "wreckers".