Labour’s opposition has called on Conservative MPs to seize the opportunity to end fracking “once and for all” by backing moves that pave the way for a vote on the issue.
The party will introduce a motion at Wednesday’s Opposition Day debate that, if passed, would give the Commons time to pass a bill to permanently ban the controversial gas extraction technology.
Labour says it wants to give MPs a chance to overturn the UK government’s decision to lift England’s fracking ban, which breaches the Conservative Party’s manifesto promise.
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The ban has been in effect since a series of earthquakes in 2019. Some MPs have been calling for a vote on the issue, with the government insisting that future applications will be considered with local support, although it is unclear how that will be measured.
Labour said it would make it “clear” during the debate that it would remain open to ministers to give the government the opportunity to hold a binding vote on the matter.
Shadow climate change minister Ed Miliband slammed what he called the prime minister’s “unjust seismic charter” after saying Labour would stick to her plan to “outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies”.
Before the debate, he said: “Today Conservative MPs have a simple choice; whether they are breaking their manifesto promise to voters and allowing the government to impose expensive, unsafe fracking on unwanted communities, or will they support it Labour to ban fracking once and for all?
“Labour insists on Liz Truss’s unjust charter on earthquakes, including her plan to outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies, which have no impact on energy prices and endanger local communities, nature and water supplies. healthy.
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“Every Conservative MP who opposes fracking must now put the country above the party and support Labour’s ban on fracking.”
Fracturing is the process of hydraulic fracturing, which uses high-pressure liquids to release gas from shale formations.
The 2019 Conservative manifesto pledged not to lift England’s moratorium unless “science clearly shows it can be done safely”.
A government-commissioned report by the British Geological Survey (BGS) suggests more data is needed, but despite a lack of scientific progress, Ms Truss’ government has ripped through the Conservative Party’s promise.
Ami McCarthy, a political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said the prime minister, business and energy minister Jacob Rees-Mogg “all knew that no one voted for fracking”.
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“This government should switch to cheap, clean, homegrown solar and onshore wind and focus on making people’s homes warmer,” she said.
“Conservative MPs have a responsibility to their constituents. Their political survival depends on it.”
Jamie Peters, from Friends of the Earth, said the decision to lift the fracking ban was “rash” and “thoughtful”.
“If there isn’t a strong enough opposition from communities facing the threat of fracking, there’s a growing body of evidence that councillors on all sides don’t want it either,” he said.
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“Why revive a zombie industry like fracking when we can roll out measures that will really lower our energy bills and reduce harmful carbon emissions, such as insulating leaky homes in the UK and investing in cheap and popular renewable energy?
“This will really support our energy security and deliver it faster and at a lower cost.”
A spokesman for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “In light of (Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and weaponisation of energy, the government is taking steps to increase domestic energy, reduce UK imports from abroad and explore all possible options. , to improve domestic energy security.
“The government has lifted the moratorium on UK shale gas production, enabling developers to seek planning permission with local support.”
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Amy Gibbons is PA Political Correspondent.
