There are no circumstances in which Lancashire County Council could have a “meaningful debate” about the fracking industry, its Conservative leader has told DrillOrDrop.
Government proposals to relax the planning rules for shale gas sites are due to be discussed for the first time in the chamber of the House of Commons.
An engineer who has called for stricter regulation of fracking was subjected to a public campaign to discredit him, a disciplinary investigation by his professional body has noted.
The Health and Safety Executive has reported that Tony Almond, who worked on onshore oil and gas policy, has died following a heart attack.
The Conservative MP whose constituency includes Cuadrilla’s fracking site has urged the government to scrap its proposals designed to speed up shale gas decisions.
The government was warned this morning to drop proposals to change the planning rules on shale gas.
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, told anti-fracking campaigners at a rally in Westminster that the Labour Party stood in solidarity with them. And he predicted opposition to fracking would be a key issue at the next election.
