Statement on lifting of the moratorium on fracking
September 22, 2022
My position on fracking has been clear since this issue first arose almost a decade ago.
I have said time and time again that fracking should only proceed where there is local consent. I have held public meetings, met with Parish Councils, pressured Ministers in Parliament and listened to constituents on this issue.
On August 18, Liz Truss made a very clear statement at a leadership husting that any future fracking would only proceed where there is local consent. She repeated this in the House of Commons on September 8.
Since then, I have submitted parliamentary written questions and written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to gain further information of how local consent would be assessed and put on record York residents’ prior objection to fracking. This evening, I have a meeting in Downing Street where I will continue to push the issue.
It is paramount that local people are at the heart of local decisions. From my inbox and conversations with constituents over a number of years, it is clear to me that fracking did not have local support before the moratorium and if that remains the case now, I will not support any applications for local fracking sites within York Outer.
