Labour will force a vote to stop shale gas extraction

Update: The government u-turned this evening and decided to accept Labour’s amendment to the Infrastructure Bill (introducing new protections before fracking can go ahead). Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint reacted by saying:

“This is a huge u-turn by the Government and big victory for the protection of Britain’s environment. Labour has always said that shale gas extraction cannot go ahead unless there is a system of robust regulation and comprehensive inspection, but David Cameron has repeatedly ignored people’s genuine and legitimate environmental concerns over shale gas. Now, thanks to Labour’s amendment, the Government has been forced to accept that tough protections and proper safeguards must be in place before fracking can go ahead.

“While eight out of 10 homes still rely on gas for heating, shale gas may have a role to play in displacing some of the gas we currently import and improving our energy security. But that potential benefit cannot come at the expense of robust environmental protections or our climate change commitments.”

Over the weekend, Jim Murphy announced that a Scottish Labour government would put a stop to fracking. Now Caroline Flint, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, have announced Labour will force a vote to stop developments regarding shale gas extraction.

In an article for the Guardian, the two leading Labour politicians explain that “shale gas extraction cannot go ahead in the UK without a proper system of robust regulation and comprehensive inspection.”

They do not rule out shale gas extraction but argue for “fundamental reforms” of the regulatory regime.

Flint and Eagle also stress that “the development of shale gas, cannot come at the expense of meeting our legally binding obligation to avoid dangerous climate change.” This echoes the Miliband’s sentiments; he announced 2 weeks ago that climate change was very much still high on Labour’s priority list.