Given the crippling fossil fuel energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government has been thinking about ending the ban on shale gas extraction, better known as fracking. With the Tory leadership competition now underway, environmentalists now fear that prime minister Boris Johnson’s replacement will scrap many of its plans to reach net zero, which could imply a return to the controversial practice.
However, a conservative group has warned that such a move would alienate Red Wall voters, many of whom supported the Tories in the 2019 election.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Sam Hall, the director of the Conservative Environment Network, and former policy adviser to Michael Gove, warned that it is vital the party maintain Johnson’s environmental reputation.
He said: “Politically speaking, the environment will be very important to their election prospects in 2024.
“It is a hot topic in both the Red Wall and Blue Wall fringe seats and they are very important for the party to hold.
“I think falling back on the environment, as some recent polls show, will cost the Conservatives votes in those areas.”
Under Mr Johnson’s leadership, the UK has implemented ambitious environmental policies and regulations and made more progress in tackling the climate crisis than its predecessors over the past decade.
Mr Hall noted that while the government and prime minister candidates should look at every solution there is to tackle the energy crisis and lower bills, he warned that a return to fracking could come at a high cost.
He said: “If it is possible to extract a lot of gas through fracking in a way that local communities are willing to accept, then I think it is worth looking at.
“But I think the reality of his previous experience of trying in the UK is that our geology just isn’t suited for fracking, which causes seismic events.
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“Local communities don’t like the disturbance. We are a densely populated island and I think there would be a lot of opposition if fracking applications are made.”
Mr. Hall also believed that the amount of gas and the benefits of fracking reintroduction would be “pretty small” compared to factors such as seismicity and local support.
He added: “For that reason, I don’t know what candidates will say on this subject, but I would advise that it is not a solution to the energy crisis, nor is it a measure of the cost of living.
“Instead, it’s probably very politically controversial in some of the fringe seats the Conservatives need to win in 2024.”
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“There have been many Red Wall MPs who have been strongly against fracking, for example Lee Rowly in North East Derbyshire, and Alexander Stafford are both some of the strongest opponents of fracking and are both conservative.
“I think in such seats there would be a really strong political backlash against attempts to restart fracking and I think politicians should take that into account.”
Given how instrumental Red wall seats were in giving the Tories an overwhelming majority in 2019, strong anti-fracking backlash could jeopardize those plans.