A Cheshire MP says he is worried the appointment of new prime minister Liz Truss could mean fracking is back on the cards for his constituency and other areas.
Mike Amesbury warned people opposed to fracking they should prepare to campaign over the issue if they want to ensure fracking doesn’t take place locally.
The Labour MP said he will stand alongside campaigners if Liz Truss presses ahead with plans to lift the UK-wide ban on fracking, which was imposed in 2019 following earthquakes near Blackpool.
Fracking companies have previously had their sights on area within Mr Amesbury’s Weaver Vale constituency under licences allowing shale gas exploration.
He said there would potentially be an impact on Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn and Northwich if hydraulic fracturing is ever pursued.
Mr Amesbury – who was once accused of ‘nimbysim’ by Truss, for his opposition to fracking – said: “Campaigners and constituents breathed a sigh of relief when it looked like fracking was dead in the water.
“But the energy crisis has been seen by vested interests, backed by a small number of Tory MPs including Truss, as an opportunity to resurrect this discredited practice.
“It’s being presented as a way of lowering energy prices because we know consumers are facing sky-rocketing bills.
“But it could take years to produce shale gas at scale, with no guarantees.
“Any fracked gas would go straight onto the international wholesale market to maximise profits so would have little or no impact on domestic energy prices.”
He added: “Fracking raises all kinds of concerns.
“Not only around earthquakes but water and air contamination, the vandalism of our countryside through drilling thousands of wells and the fact it is still about burning a fossil fuel.”
Ms Truss says she will only support fracking in areas where there is a clear public consensus behind it.
Mr Amesbury said: “I don’t believe any community really wants fracking.
“What worries me are reports the fracking firms are planning to offer households a 25% cut in their energy bills and give communities £100,000 if they back fracking in their local area.
“That’s legalised bribery in my book.”
The MP suggested: “What we need is for government to ramp up investment in renewables and make sure our homes are better insulated.
“In the short run, freeze the energy price cap and cut VAT on energy bills, funded by extending the windfall tax on the excess profits of North Sea oil and gas producers.”
