Fracking in the UK general election

[T_i_B]

As I'm sure you are aware, there is a general election going on over here. And fracking is something of a contentious issue, being strongly supported by the ruling Conservative party, and opposed by Labour, Lib Dems and Greens.

There are proposals to test for shale gas in my local area, which given the local geology is likely to lead to fracking happening locally. This has naturally caused a great deal of local opposition to the proposal, and even the local Conservatives have jumped on the anti-fracking bandwagon, making much of their opposition to fracking during local elections.

This however was somewhat undermined when the prime minister Theresa May visited my district for one of her staged photo ops in a factory after all the workers had been sent home for the day and Tory activists shipped in. At this event she chose to speak in favour of fracking, which directly contradicts the local Tory stance.

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/prime-minister-theresa-may-discusses-fracking-hs2-and-what-a-mugwump-is-in-clay-cross-1-8516403

You would thing that this would present Labour with an open goal, giving them a chance to retain the seat where I live, which has been Labour since 1935 but is now heavily marginal. But alas, the local Labour MP has written the following statement and sent it to everyone in my area. Below is a link to the full 4 page statement, which has not been universally well received shall we say.

With the Labour MP choosing to go against a rare example of a Labour policy likely to win votes, it is now looking very likely that we will end up with a Conservative MP, and a number of Tory politicans having to choose between the national party and their constituents strong concerns about fracking.

https://nataschaengel.com/fracking/

I am not against fracking as long as the industry stays highly regulated and controlled. If taking shale out of the ground in the UK means that we have fewer greenhouse gas emissions, that we can control our own energy and get prices down because we are not importing it, if it creates a whole new industry with good jobs, if it is good for Derbyshire, then I support it.

If shale exploration is going to happen, let’s make sure that we get the most out of it.

I hope this will start a proper debate on shale exploration in which everyone can raise their issues and concerns. It has been very one-sided until now so I am looking forward to hearing your views on this and everything else!

[FBaggins]

1. Why it isn't an open goal for Labour

Of course... I don't know the local politics, but Corbin has decimated support for Labour in general (with many votes shifting to Green or Lib Dem). If all three share opposition to fracking, then there isn't reason to believe that the Tory position would help Labour.

And - while fracking is an issue - it isn't one of the top issues this time around (Brexit, etc.). The large UKIP vote there in 2015 is likely to shift more to the Tories.

[T_i_B]

2. It's a big local issue

Labour's anti-fracking policy, and Tory divisions on the subject should make it an open goal for Labour, but the incumbent Labour MP has gone out of her way to wreck that.

It does mean that when the Tories do take the seat, the anti-Corbyn faction will have to take a good portion of the blame.