Fracking

The government has defeated Labour's bid to force a vote to ban fracking, amid accusations of bullying and manhandling of Conservative MPs.

The pledge followed Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour party conference last month, where he promised to create a [publicly owned energy company](/content/articles/2022/09/keir-starmer-pledges-to-launch-publicly-owned-energy-company/) to ensure energy security in the UK. He suggested current limits on acceptable levels of seismic activity are too restrictive and said the government is determined to “realise any potential sources of domestic gas”. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg sought to limit the rebellion by insisting communities will have a “veto” on fracking in their area and playing down Bryant’s allegations. At the time, Conservatives representing seats in northern England hit out at the move to end the ban, which unequivocally breaks a clear Tory manifesto promise. Coffey has since denied the claim. Labour former minister Chris Bryant said some MPs had been “physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied”.

Senior Tory MPs have been accused of bullying members into voting against the bill.

[Senior Tory MPs have been accused of bullying members](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-jacob-reesmogg-charles-walker-tories-commons-b1033935.html) into voting against the bill, forcing Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey to deny manhandling an MP into the division lobby. [vote to ban fracking did not pass](https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1372?byMember=False#ayes), as 230 MPs voted for it while 326 MPs voted against it. Find out below who voted for and against the ban on fracking, and who avoided taking part. What was the result of the ban on the fracking vote? Fracking vote: Who voted for and against the ban and what was the result? [rebelling against the Government](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/vote-fracking-liz-truss-government-rebel-b1033919.html).

One Tory MP describes "a shambles" in Parliament, as angry scenes put Liz Truss under pressure.

It is a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party at every level." He said he was "livid" and there was "no coming back" for the government, describing the situation as an "absolute disgrace". However, the government has confirmed that both MPs are staying in post. "I have never seen scenes like that. "I've just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking." But one furious Tory MP described the events as a "shambles and a disgrace".

One Tory MP describes "a shambles" in Parliament, as angry scenes put Liz Truss under pressure.

It is a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party at every level." He said he was "livid" and there was "no coming back" for the government, describing the situation as an "absolute disgrace". However, the government has confirmed that both MPs are staying in post. "I have never seen scenes like that. "I've just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking." But one furious Tory MP described the events as a "shambles and a disgrace".

Labour had proposed a vote to ban fracking for shale gas after Liz Truss lifted a moratorium on the practice after she became PM.

There is clearly significant and mounting opposition to fracking across the political spectrum.” He said Rees-Mogg’s amendment “shows the government is now finally recognising the strength of feeling against fracking and the evident dissatisfaction within its own ranks” and “just how deeply unpopular it is across Westminster, not to mention with the public”. Pro-hydrocarbon lobbyists Net Zero Watch said while the majority of MPs voted against Labour’s motion, “it is now clear that no company will risk investing in the development of UK shale gas projects given that the next government is almost certain to pull the plug”.

Liz Truss made her announcement in Downing Street at 1.30pm, as Conservative MPs who publicly opposed fracking but voted against a ban took to social media ...

- A new prime minister is expected to be chosen within the next week. Attempting to revive fracking, and the massive assault on environmental protection and the planning system that became known as the attack on nature, are sure-fire ways to cement a short tenure at the top. “It just goes to show the contentious issue that fracking is and how divisive it is in every community including Westminster. “We are pleased that Liz Truss who lifted the fracking moratorium without any evidence it is safe has gone. IGas dropped nearly 9% but later recovered some of the losses. The lesson for whoever succeeds her as Prime Minister couldn’t be clearer.” There is also talk that the candidates could include the former prime minister, Boris Johnson. This forced Conservatives to choose between defying the party’s 2019 manifesto pledge on the fracking moratorium or risking expulsion. Some of them have now lost all credibility on the issue, having backed a PM who resigned less than 24 hours later.” Many of her MPs recognised her policies were at odds with people’s concerns and priorities. Rishi Sunak is expected to stand. Now the only thing that’s fracked is Truss’ career.”

Indigenous tribes are implementing Rights of Nature laws to establish protections for the land against fracking and other harmful extraction.

She says that she’s interested in learning more about Rights of Nature laws and hopes to connect with other Native environmental leaders who have already put the laws on the books. Tribal sovereignty creates the ability for tribes to maintain jurisdiction and control over their lands and resources, and tribes have the ability to enforce those laws if an enrolled tribal member is found in violation of them. Rights of Nature laws, like any other laws, require experts who can evaluate and determine whether the law is being violated, and later, officials to determine what remediation for a violation entails. In 2019, the [Yurok tribe in northern California](https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/yurok-nation-just-established-rights-klamath-river#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Yurok%20Tribe,free%20from%20contamination%20by%20genetically) passed a Rights of Nature law to protect the Klamath River. She wants to see an implementation of a Rights of Nature law and says that there are some members of the tribal council who might be in favor of such a statute. [violating the rights of manoomin](https://prismreports.org/2022/02/22/rights-of-nature-laws-can-strengthen-indigenous-sovereignty-and-provide-a-pathway-to-environmental-justice/). The White Earth Nation Court of Appeals [dismissed the case in March 2022](https://turtletalk.blog/2022/03/21/white-earth-ojibwe-appellate-court-dismissed-manoomin-suit-against-minnesota-dnr/). Rights of Nature formalize a worldview and understanding that is cultural, spiritual, and generational—or the complex interplay of the relationship between humans and ecosystems. The expropriation of land and negation of Native sovereignty also play into whether land is bestowed its rights and the land’s stewards can formalize their practices. Biggs worked with leaders of the Ponca Nation to help draft its Rights of Nature law. According to Kekek Stark, an assistant professor of law at the University of Montana who is Ojibwe, there are three significant waves of the Rights of Nature movement. [Rights of the Klamath River](https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/yurok-nation-just-established-rights-klamath-river#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Yurok%20Tribe,free%20from%20contamination%20by%20genetically) in 2019.

MPs face potentially losing whip after No 10 confirms chaotic vote is being treated as a confidence issue.

transport secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, told Times Radio: “At the moment that is the case.” “Throughout the day, the whips had treated the vote as a confidence motion. Those without a reasonable excuse for failing to vote with the government can expect proportionate disciplinary action.” Some of these would have had permission to be away, and some seemingly did not have their votes properly recorded. The whips will now be speaking to Conservative MPs who failed to support the government. At the start of business on Thursday the Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle.

Mr Skidmore said: “As the former Energy Minister who signed net zero into law for the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to ...

The Labour Party tabled an opposition motion that would guarantee time for a bill to ban fracking. [ lifted the fracking moratorium in England](https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/09/22/uk-fracking-ban-lifted/) to boost the UK’s energy supplies. The

Maybe you've heard of a three-line whip – it means the vote is a serious one, and not voting the right way could mean having the whip withdrawn.

[Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.](https://labourlist.org/sign-up/) Yvette Cooper will ask the new Home Secretary – Grant Shapps – to make a statement on the departure of Braverman. The government defeated the motion – but, of course, the damage had already been done; the vote betrayed a ruling party deeply at odds with itself. A statement released at 1.30am said: “The Prime Minister has full confidence in the chief and deputy chief whip. Ministers were accused of manhandling MPs into the government’s voting lobbies; scenes that longstanding Tory backbencher Charles Walker described as a “pitiful reflection on the Conservative Party at every level”. Yesterday morning, however, Tory deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker stepped things up a notch and warned that the voting down an opposition day motion put forward by Labour – attempting to take control of the parliamentary agenda to force through a bill banning fracking – was a “

The government defeated a Labour motion to force through a new law banning fracking by 326 to 230 but 40 MPs rebelled against their party, despite there being ...

A Conservative government will always have my confidence, but its leadership today has severely tested my trust and the trust of many colleagues and I would advise them not to do so again.” \n\nI am prepared to face the consequences of my decision.\u201d— Chris Skidmore (@Chris Skidmore) Meanwhile, there were reports of bullying and harassment permeating the parliamentary air too. However, Downing Street later said the pair “remain in post”. He asked for a formal investigation. Fracking was banned in 2019 over concerns it leads to earth tremors but Truss lifted the ban, breaking a Tory party 2019 manifesto promise by doing so.

There was complete chaos in Parliament last night, with allegations that MPs were 'bullied' and 'manhandled' into voting with the Government.

MPs vote by walking into one of two division lobbies - one for and one against a motion. This morning there is still uncertainty as to what the consequences will be for Tories who failed to support the Government. No Conservatives voted with Labour to support the motion, and the Government won the vote by 326 to 230. But given the importance Tory whips - those in charge of enforcing party discipline - had put on the vote, they would be expected by their party to have extremely good reasons for not having voted. Two Conservative Warwickshire MPs abstained on last night's (Oct 19) fracking vote in Parliament, despite the possibility that they could be kicked out of the party for failing to support the Government. A 'three-line whip' is used by parties at Westminster to ensure their MPs vote a certain way, and suggests serious consequences for those who do not comply.

'It is never acceptable for there to be any harassment of members as they cast their democratic vote'

[Charles Walker](/topic/charles-walker), a former chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, said: “The grown-ups in our party, and a few do exist, need to meet in a papal conclave over the next 24 hours and decide on a coronation. [Crispin Blunt](/topic/crispin-blunt), a former minister, said: “It’s plain what is required. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Anne-Marie Trevelyan](/topic/anne-marie-trevelyan) said the UK parliament is “well respected across the world”, making the “intimidation and bullying” – as one Labour MP called it – even more worrying. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. [Chris Bryant](/topic/chris-bryant), a former Labour minister, said he had seen some MPs “physically manhandled” and up to 20 MPs “surrounding a couple of Conservative MPs who were wavering as to how they should vote” [its threat to strip the whip from any Conservative MP](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/fracking-vote-tory-labour-whip-b2205908.html) who failed to vote down Labour’s attempt to ban fracking, late on Wednesday. [a day when the home secretary was also sacked](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/truss-braverman-shapps-morton-resign-b2206412.html) – called for [Liz Truss](/topic/liz-truss) to be forced out today. [Conservative MPs squared up to their senior whips](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-fracking-vote-commons-labour-b2206346.html), who first quit over the mayhem of whether it was being treated as a confidence vote – then withdrew their resignations. [the “manhandling” of Tory MPs to force them to back the government](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-truss-suella-braverman-resignation-letter-latest-b2206604.html) on [fracking](/topic/fracking) – saying she is “shocked” by what went on.