Fracking blocked across UK after government forced into U-turn

Fracking for shale gas across the UK has been blocked after the UK Government was forced to abandon attempts to push through legislation on Monday night.

The government has now made a major U-turn on its plans to fast-track fracking, otherwise known as hydraulic fracturing, after accepting Labour Party proposals to tighten environmental regulations.

Prime Minister David Cameron had previously said the government was “going all out” for shale gas excavation, but widespread public concern in the build up to the May general election has caused ministers to back down.

The changes accepted by ministers would see fracking banned in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and in areas where drinking water is collected, ruling out large swathes of the UK’s shale gas deposits.

The new regulations are expected to slow down exploration by requiring a year of background monitoring before drilling at a site can begin.

An attempt to impose a moratorium on shale gas exploration, a move recommended by an influential group of MPs, was defeated after Labour abstained.

The Infrastructure Bill contains the new rules for fracking and will now go to the House of Lords, where further amendments could be made.

Caroline Flint, the shadow energy and climate change secretary, said: “This is a huge U-turn by the government and big victory for the protection of Britain’s environment. Labour has always said 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.”

The 13 Labour changes accepted by ministers included independent inspection of the integrity of wells, monitoring for leaks of methane and informing residents individually of fracking in their area.

Government proposals to allow “any substance” to be used in fracking wells was also overturned.

Amber Rudd, Under Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, committed the government to cancelling shale gas licences and permits if their official advisers, the Committee on Climate Change, concluded that shale gas would be detrimental to climate change goals.

Anti-fracking protesters gathered outside parliament and human rights activist Bianca Jagger accused David Cameron of “scaremongering” over the number of jobs the UK could miss out on if it does not commit to shale gas development.

Jagger said: “Look at Germany, look at all the jobs that Germany has created with renewable energy. Instead of investing in fracking, which I don’t see will benefit the average person in this country, we should be investing in renewable energy.”

The government was facing a backbench rebellion from both Lib Dem and Tory MPs including former environment secretary Caroline Spelman and Tory environment select committee chairwoman Anne McIntosh.

The block on fracking is a blow to Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne who has championed fracking as the means of providing cheaper fuel for the UK and was calling for it to be fast tracked just 24 hours before the vote.

Cameron said he wanted to see the UK emulate the U.S. on fracking, with local communities benefiting from favourable business rates and job creation.

The Prime Minister said: “I want to see unconventional gas properly exploited in our country. I think there are good reasons for doing this - we want to have greater energy security, we want to keep prices down, we also want to tackle climate change.”