Reporting of the politics at national and local level of the shale gas and fracking debate
The government has no clear idea on how much it has spent supporting fracking, what the benefits would be and how much investment would be needed in future, the UK’s spending watchdog has revealed.
Three Labour MPs are seeking to add a ban on fracking to the Queen’s Speech.
The Conservative-led council in the area of Cuadrilla’s shale gas site has called on regulators to ban local fracking immediately on safety grounds.
The prime minister has been warned that government support for fracking risks losing the Conservatives seats at the general election.
As expected, the Scottish government has continued an indefinite moratorium on fracking and the unconventional oil and gas industry.
A ministerial statement is due later this week on Scotland’s policy on unconventional oil and gas.
Conservatives in the North Yorkshire district of Ryedale say they are sending a “historic message” by calling for a local moratorium on fracking until at least 2023.
Jeremy Corbyn met campaigners outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site near Blackpool this afternoon and repeated his call on the government to ban fracking.
Andrea Leadsom has been appointed the new business and energy secretary with responsibility for the onshore oil and gas industry. The new local government secretary, who will decide on two shale gas planning appeals, is Robert Jenrick.
Environmental campaigners have called on the new Conservative leader, Boris Johnson, to ban fracking.
