Several of the most vicious, rabble-rousing criticisms of BP in the House Energy Committee last Thursday came from legislators representing competitive oil interests.

Louisiana Democrat Charles Melancon took over $60,000 from the oil business last year. He had earlier demanded Barack Obama reverse the drilling moratorium on behalf of oilcos who back him. He has enthusiastically backed measures to expand offshore drilling over the last three years.

Especially hard on the luckless BP CEO was GOP Representative John Sullivan. Sullivan took over $65,000 from rival oil interests in 2009. He gave extensive press and TV interviews, referring to BP’s behaviour as ‘disgracefully reckless’, and demanding high fines be levied against the company.

Republican Marsha Blackburn has received $140,000 in oil contributions over the last seven years. She has in the past referred to ecological opponents of offshore drilling as ‘extremists’. Last week she tore into BP as if the company had single-handedly led the charge for such drilling. And Republican Phil Gingrey – who accused Hayward of ‘an unconscionable cop-out’ – has repeatedly argued for offshore drilling, using scare tactics to persuade Americans that without offshore fields, petrol prices would double. He too represents rivals of BP, and took $25,000 in oilco contributions last year.

And lest we forget, of course, the BP apologist Texas Republican Joe Barton works with every oilco on the planet – including BP – and has received just under $1.5 million during his congressional career.

So it’s good to see that none of these conflicts of interest swayed the sub-Committee in any way whatsoever.