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MPs locked horns over Liz Truss’ move to lift the Government’s ban on fracking as Question Time made its return to TV screens last night following a lengthy hiatus over the summer. Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith initially clashed with Labour’s Wes Streeting over Liz Truss’ move.
Mr Clarke-Smith, a former headteacher and Cabinet Office Minister, said: “I speak as somebody who has a large proposed fracking site in my own constituency, so this is something that I have actually dealt with a fair bit, but what we want, as mentioned, is an energy mix.
“Now, for some communities, they may feel that this is not for them.
“They may feel that this is not going to bring the price down, that this is not going to meet their needs, they may have environmental concerns and the local community will want to decide.”
However, Mr Streeting interjected by asking: “Are you backing fracking in your own constituency?
“Are you going out knocking on doors and saying we are having fracking around here?”
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Mr Clarke-Smith replied: “No… [but] I’m fairly neutral on it. I want to see more evidence.”
He also explained how two solar farms had been made in his Nottinghamshire constituency.
Explaining his position, Mr Clarke-Smith added: “There are areas of the country where there are actually people calling for fracking, people think it will be very beneficial, people want to explore that, and I think they should be given the option for that.”
Before the Red Wall Tory could finish his sentence, Oxford West & Abingdon’s Liberal Democrat MP said the Government’s argument “does not stack up”.
Ms Moran, who lost to Sir Ed Davey in the Liberal Democrats 2020 leadership contest, said: “Why is it okay, now, to release the moratorium on fracking and not allow communities who might want onshore wind farms to have that?
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