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Labour vows fracking ban if it wins general election Labour vows fracking ban if it wins general election
(35 minutes later)
A future Labour government would ban fracking, shadow energy secretary Barry Gardiner is to say. A future Labour government would ban fracking in England, shadow energy secretary Barry Gardiner has said.
Mr Gardiner will tell the Labour Party conference there would be an "outright ban" on the process, which involves gas being extracted from shale rock. Speaking at Labour conference, he said fracking, which involves gas being extracted from shale rock, would make the UK dependent on fossil fuels when the priority should be clean energy.
Labour would back "clean technologies for the future", he will say. Labour would focus on developing a low carbon energy industry, he said.
The government says fracking could provide the UK with greater energy security and create jobs, but opponents argue it is bad for the environment. The government says fracking could provide the UK with greater energy security and create jobs.
Environmentalists say shale gas projects will make the UK's climate change targets impossible to achieve. But opponents argue it is bad for the environment and say shale gas projects will make the UK's climate change targets impossible to achieve.
In an energy and environment policy launch in September, Jeremy Corbyn pledged to outlaw fracking, saying it was "not compatible with climate change prevention".In an energy and environment policy launch in September, Jeremy Corbyn pledged to outlaw fracking, saying it was "not compatible with climate change prevention".
In a speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Gardiner will confirm plans for a ban. In a speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Gardiner confirmed plans for a ban.
He said: "Fracking locks us into an energy infrastructure that is based on fossil fuels long after our country needs to have moved to clean energy.
"So today I am announcing that a future Labour government will ban fracking.
What is fracking?What is fracking?
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.
Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.
The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer and can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer and can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.
The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.
Mr Gardiner will say: "Fracking locks us into an energy infrastructure that is based on fossil fuels long after our country needs to have moved to renewables. Mr Gardiner added: "We will consult with our colleagues in industry and the trade unions about the best way to transition our energy industry to create the vital jobs and apprenticeships we are going to need for the UK's low-carbon future."
"The next Labour government will back the clean technologies of the future. He said the clean energy and low-carbon technologies workforce represented just 6% of the economy but were responsible for 30% if its growth.
"We will consult with our colleagues in industry and the trade unions about the best way to transition our energy industry to create the vital jobs and apprenticeships we are going to need for the UK's low-carbon future." "We've got to unlock the full potential of this sector," he told conference, saying it meant skilled jobs, growth, clean air and "a healthy secure future for our children".
'Energy crossroads' "Britain is at the beginning of an incredible transformation of our energy system. The next Labour government will launch a new programme called 'Repowering Britain' that puts you in control," he added, saying the UK needed to "localise" the way energy is produced and stored.
Fracking involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside. Hannah Martin, energy campaigner at Greenpeace UK, welcomed the proposed ban and "democratisation" of energy in the UK.
"Support for community energy schemes can empower the people of Britain to take back control from the stranglehold of the Big Six, and choose cleaner and increasingly cheaper energy than the fracked gas and nuclear reactors being pushed by the government."
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas also said Labour's commitment to a fracking ban was "extremely welcome", as the process posed "risks to local communities" and "risks undermining our climate change commitments".
But she also urged Labour to "rethink" its support for the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project.
Shale wealth fund
But Gary Smith, the GMB union's Scotland secretary, said ruling out fracking was "madness", saying the UK would be dependent on gas for decades.
"We will have to confront the fact that we will be buying gas from hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers. We don't think that's ethical. We have world-class regulators and world-leading standards in terms of monitoring. Ruling it out now is madness," he told the Press Association.
Under government plans put out to consultation in August, residents affected by fracking could be paid some of the proceeds of shale gas projects.Under government plans put out to consultation in August, residents affected by fracking could be paid some of the proceeds of shale gas projects.
A shale wealth fund was announced in 2014 to set aside up to 10% of the tax proceeds from fracking to benefit communities in the UK hosting wells.A shale wealth fund was announced in 2014 to set aside up to 10% of the tax proceeds from fracking to benefit communities in the UK hosting wells.
But the government is now considering paying the money directly to individual households instead of councils and local trusts.But the government is now considering paying the money directly to individual households instead of councils and local trusts.
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said Labour's commitment to a fracking ban was "extremely welcome", saying fracking posed "risks to local communities" and "risks undermining our climate change commitments".
But she also urged Labour to "rethink" its support for the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project.
"We stand at a crossroads for Britain's energy future - and we urge Labour to choose a future where power is in the hands of the many, not the few - and where Britain puts to use its most abundant resources: the sun, sea and wind," she said.
Gary Smith, the GMB union's Scotland secretary, said ruling out fracking was "madness", saying the UK would be dependent on gas for decades.
"We will have to confront the fact that we will be buying gas from hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers. We don't think that's ethical. We have world-class regulators and world-leading standards in terms of monitoring. Ruling it out now is madness," he told the Press Association.