Reporting of the politics at national and local level of the shale gas and fracking debate
A controversial law to increase police powers to control protests was included in the Queen’s Speech this morning. The speech also included other already-announced plans for new environmental targets, an overhaul of the planning system and changes to the way public decisions could be challenged in court.
Opposition MPs have criticised government plans to give police greater powers to control protests as “draconian, undemocratic and disproportionate”.
Politicians have asked ministers about new fracking licences, the role of shale gas in UK energy and potential conflicts of interest for climate advisors.
The human rights committee of the UK parliament has called for evidence on the government’s new bill that would give police greater powers to restrict protest.
Labour has failed to block the government’s new policing bill which includes restrictions on the right to protest and criminalises unauthorised encampments.
MPs called on the home secretary tonight to abandon plans to give police greater powers to curtail the right to protest.
The UK government has announced changes to public order legislation that would give the police greater powers to restrict protests.
The UK Government “lacks a plan” on how to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, despite setting the target in law almost two years ago, a committee of MPs argued today.
Urgent change is needed to assess the full impact of fossil fuel proposals on the climate, the government was told today.
The energy minister has confirmed that a small-scale form of fracking, planned for a site in Lincolnshire, is not covered by the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
DRILL OR DROP? 