Fracking companies can “railroad” through their interests because the Environment Agency has been “drained” of resources, a Labour energy spokesperson told delegates at the party’s conference.
The 16-year-old Swedish climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg, has described the UK’s support for shale gas as “irresponsible” and “beyond absurd”.
The energy minister, Claire Perry, attended most of a 95-minute meeting with the shale gas industry which she said she had dropped in on, MPs heard this evening.
Campaigners delivered a letter to Downing Street this afternoon, signed by more than 8,000 people, calling for an immediate halt on fracking in the UK.
Labour’s climate change spokesman, Barry Gardiner, today visited Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site near Blackpool, where fracking is imminent. He also went to Altcar Moss, a site near Formby earmarked for fracking by Aurora Resources.
In this week’s listings Shadow international trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, visits Lancashire fracking sites; Campaigners head for Bank Holiday festivals; Green Party’s Amelia Womack speaks at Preston New Road; Plus meetings, gatherings and information events.
The shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary confirmed this morning that the next Labour government would ban fracking.
Top news in this Fracking Week in Politics: Responsibility for fracking regulation Shale gas emissions UK energy policy and the Paris Agreement on climate change Inquiry into Cuadrilla’s fracking plans The SNP and shale gas
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on ministers to publish advice on the impacts of fracking on UK climate targets.
Fracking Week in Westminster returns after the summer recess with questions and debates on fracking and onshore oil and gas