Bucks MPs respond to chaotic fracking vote

Four Conservative Party MPs in Buckinghamshire have rejected a motion to guarantee a future vote on a bill to ban fracking in England, during an evening of high tension and chaos at Westminster.

Whilst the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto stated, “we will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely,” Tory MPs faced a three-line whip last night to back the Government in voting against the Labour Party’s motion.

Angry and farcical scenes ensued, with 36 Tory MPs abstaining, albeit some of them with permission, and accusations of ‘manhandling’ and ‘bullying’ being levelled at senior Conservative MPs during the voting process.

The lack of discipline seemed to spread to all-around as Channel Four presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, was heard swearing at Wycombe MP Steve Baker following an interview.

The MP for Buckingham, Greg Smith, who voted against the motion, states on his website that he is committed to doing “everything possible to save our planet.”

Today, he told Bucks Radio: "Let's not pretend the vote was about fracking, it was a vote on whether to surrender the setting of House of Commons business to the Labour Party. Clearly as a Conservative MP I was not going to support that.”

MP for Wycombe, Steve Baker, MP for Beaconsfield, Joy Morrissey, and MP for Aylesbury, Rob Butler also voted against Labour’s motion.

Prominent Lawyer, filmmaker and political campaigner from Buckingham, Peter Stefanovic told Bucks Radio: “This is a wakeup call for the people of Buckingham. The Conservative Government is on the verge of collapse. It has shown it can’t be trusted with the economy, it can’t be trusted with the environment, in fact it can’t be trusted – period. For the sake of the country, we need a general election now.”

Environmental campaigner Caroline Thomson-Smith, also a Greg Smith constituent, added: “Greg Smith yet again shows a confused understanding of environmental issues.

“We should remember that only five years’ worth of gas will be produced from fracking our deposits while there are other far cheaper, much quicker and truly sustainable energy sources to be had.”

Last night’s motion, tabled by Labour, was a response to Prime Minister Liz Truss recently announcing that the 2019 ban on fracking would be lifted.

The ban was introduced following a successful campaign by environmentalist groups highlighting a series of earth tremors near to fracking sites.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Chesham and Amersham, Sarah Green, who voted for last night’s motion, said to us: "Fracking is not the answer to the country's energy problems or the cost-of-living crisis.

“It won't reduce energy bills, but it will put England's countryside at risk while increasing our reliance on natural gas.

"The public have made it clear that they do not want fracking in the UK, and I am disappointed that Conservative MPs failed to rule it out last night."

[PICTURE: MP Sarah Green]

Former Mayor of Buckingham, Councillor Jon Harvey, said: “When you have a Government whipping (and maybe more) its MPs to vote against their own manifesto commitment on fracking, it's difficult to believe in the show's future. It's time for a new season, I think.”

Steve Baker, Joy Morrissey and Rob Butler have been contacted for comment.