Lichfield’s MP says he is not against fracking after a controversial vote on the issue.
The method of extracting gas and oil from shale and rock has drawn criticism from campaigners.
Previous efforts to use the technique – which involves drilling down before using high pressure water and chemicals – in the UK were halted in 2019.
But last night (19th October) saw the Conservatives defeat a Labour motion to ban fracking permanently.
The vote made headlines after a number of Tory MPs either abstained or voted with the Labour proposal following confusion over whether or not it was a confidence vote in the Government.
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant was among those who did vote against the Labour plan. He told his social media followers that his views were clear.
“I am not against fracking.
“Modern fracking techniques are safe and this country needs energy security as evidenced by events in Ukraine.”
Michael Fabricant
The decision to reopen the door for fracking in the UK came from Prime Minister Liz Truss as part of measures to tackle energy prices – but she insisted schemes would only go ahead where there was local support.
But Labour’s Cllr Dave Robertson, who stood against Mr Fabricant in the 2019 General Election, said the Government’s track record showed the views of residents were rarely heard.
“This government ignored local concerns about HS2 and went ahead anyway. They ignored local concerns about the mega development North of Lichfield and overruled the local authority.
“They also ignored local concerns about the quarry between Kings Bromley and Alrewas – don’t trust them to listen on fracking.”
Cllr Dave Robertson
Golly, whom will our very own Vicar of Bray choose to support as our new Prime Minister? Best he keeps his powder dry until a front runner emerges; after all he wouldn’t want to support another loser.
This is getting ridiculous. We need a General Election now.
Resident of Wales, where fracking is blocked, is in favour of fracking in England.
No surprise there then. Of course the litmus test is always would he support it if he lived near to a drilling site?
Isn’t it better to legislate that all new housing where possible should have solar and air or ground source heat pumps and move away from gas. Would be interesting to see if Mr Fabricant is a climate change sceptic.
Well, yet another reason to kick Fabricant out at the next election. The scenes in the voting lobbies in the commons yesterday were an appalling shambles. But then, MPs being bullied into toeing the party line instead of representing their constituents is nothing new. It’s one of the things that makes a mockery of our so-called democracy. It is also worth noting that in voting against a ban on fracking, he has gone against the pledge his party made at the last general election. But as we have seen, U-turns are nothing new to the Tories either. As far as I’m aware, the scientific opinions on the dangers of fracking haven’t changed, and the geological experts have concluded that we don’t have sufficient reserves of shale gas anyway. Are his constituents in favour of fracking? I very much doubt it, but then he wouldn’t know would he? He is too busy toadying up to the likes of Rees-Mogg, who has a tenuous grasp of reality.
Michael you’re a goner at the next election. Bye bye Michael!
This is the final straw for me. I’ve forgiven Michael for many things but, this is beyond the pale.
This is nothing less than party politics above local concerns.
I will not vote for you in the next election, or any candidate they stands by the principle of fracking.
Fabricant, the nodding dog who thinks the risk of fracking to save his party is justified. He also supports Johnson as a second time around prime minister. Despite the fact that Johnson is on holiday in the Bahamas and earning £150000 a pop for after dinner speeches in the US. Whilst he continues to collect his MP salary. Fabricant cares as much about Lichfield as Johnson does about Uxbridge. Career MPs earning easy money without doing anything to justify salary. Fracking will not do anything to increase energy supply in UK. It’s dangerous – and our geology is unsuitable. Also probably poisons our waters. Not that Fabricant cares about that as his party voted not to ban sewage in our waters. UK is only country in the world that has privatised precious resource of water. Fabricant supports all the privatisation – NHS also. Please vote him out at next election. We all deserve better: an MP and a government that does not believe in crashing the economy or ruining lives of millions of innocent voters. The party that created chaos can’t fix it, and his hero Johnson is not the solution for anything. Lichfield needs a non-Tory MP. The country needs a change of government.
Then he needs to leave office! Fracking is by far the most stupid decision this country has ever investigated along with his party politics and his outspoken views that I do not believe represent his constituents. I hope he doesn’t get his seat in the next GE
Fabricant and Johnson both incompetent and useless waste of space.
I felt 😪 really down having read that Johnson may be in the running for prime minister again, he is such a shameless liar. This country is in a terrible mess because of 12 year’s of Tory rule.
Question… If Johnson didn’t vote the other shambolic evening (fracking) because he was away on another holiday why hasn’t he had the whip removed? Johnson removed the whip from Tobias Ellwood who couldn’t get back from a legitimate business meeting in Moldolva! Or is it because it was a no confidence vote in Johnson was more important.
Get rid of the Tories NOW…..and help the people who are worried to death about paying their bills, keeping warm and feeding their children. 🙏
If we are looking for sustainable and affordable power in this country, it would seem to me to be obvious which forms we should be investing in. We are the windiest country in Europe, so wind turbines would be a clear choice. We have a wealth of rivers that could be used for hydro-electric generation, but Scotland is the only part of the UK that has invested in it, apart from one scheme in Wales that I am aware of. Solar power has been under utilised, and is suitable for housing, although the recent moves by the Tories to stop it’s use on farmland are not helpful. Fracking, on the other hand, has led to earth tremors on a daily basis at the longest running site. It will not lead to a fall in the price of gas, so what’s the point? It’s high time our politicians woke up and smelt the coffee. Unfortunately, with the Tories there are too many vested interests involved.
Ripping up the manifesto on which they were elected ?
Great stuff !
This is the same moron who is also backing Boris Johnson, who is currently being investigated by parliament for misconduct. It really is quite staggering how low our MPs standards are.
I’m not against Sunak, Mourdant or any other as PM but Boris Johnson again? Come on……!!
And on that basis alone – Fabricant deserves to be removed from office.