Labour gives MPs the chance to overturn government plans and ban fracking for good
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Tomorrow (Wednesday) Labour will give MPs the chance to vote to ban
fracking for good, in an aim to overturn the Government’s recent
lifting of the ban. Labour will use their Opposition Day Debate to
bring forward a binding motion in the House of Commons that would
ban fracking once and for all. If agreed, Labour's binding motion
would guarantee future Parliamentary time for a Bill which would
ban fracking, giving Conservative MPs the chance to ban fracking
once and for...Request free trial
Tomorrow (Wednesday) Labour will give MPs the chance to vote to ban fracking for good, in an aim to overturn the Government’s recent lifting of the ban. Labour will use their Opposition Day Debate to bring forward a binding motion in the House of Commons that would ban fracking once and for all. If agreed, Labour's binding motion would guarantee future Parliamentary time for a Bill which would ban fracking, giving Conservative MPs the chance to ban fracking once and for all. Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he will not give MPs a vote on the overturning of the ban on fracking. That is why Labour is putting forward the motion today to force the introduction of a bill to ban fracking. Labour will make it clear in the debate that it continues to be open to the government to provide an opportunity in government time for a binding vote on fracking. In 2019, every Conservative MP stood on a manifesto that pledged to ban fracking. However, Liz Truss’ government has now broken this promise. The Government has also indicated that they will override local consent and outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies. [1] Fracking would not solve the energy security or price issues the UK currently faces. The shale gas extracted by fracking would make no difference to gas prices, and is a more expensive alternative to renewables, which are currently up to nine times cheaper than gas. This position was stated by the former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, who wrote in February 2022 that “No amount of shale gas…would be enough to lower the European price [of gas]...” [2] The Government is deeply divided on fracking, with COP26 President Alok Sharma breaking ranks with the existing Cabinet position last Friday to declare his opposition to new fracking projects. [3] Labour’s plans to expand solar clean power and block fracking are part of Keir Starmer’s commitment to make the UK a world-leading clean energy superpower by 2030. This landmark plan will slash energy bills for good, create hundreds of thousands of good jobs, and make the UK energy secure, while providing global leadership in tackling the climate crisis. Labour’s plan to deliver a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030 is an ambitious but achievable target that would make the UK the world’s first major economy to do so. The plan also includes Labour’s commitment to create GB Energy, a publicly-owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an energy independent superpower. Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary, said: “Today Conservative MPs have a simple choice; do they break the manifesto commitments they made to their constituents and allow the government to impose expensive, unsafe fracking on communities that do not want it, or will they support Labour’s ban on fracking once and for all. “Labour is standing up to Liz Truss’ unjust Charter for Earthquakes, including her plans to outsource decisions about local consent to fracking companies, because fracking would make no difference to energy prices, and would risk the health of local communities, nature, and water supplies. “Every Conservative MP who opposes fracking must now put country over party and support Labour’s ban on fracking. “Only Labour can deliver lower energy bills and energy security for the UK, with our plans for clean power by 2030 - including trebling solar power - and GB Energy, a publicly-owned, clean energy company, to make Britain an energy independent superpower. Ends Notes to Editors [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw4NgyyoYc0 Labour’s Plan for Clean Power by 2030 The next Labour Government will launch an urgent mission for a fossil fuel free electricity system by 2030, making the UK a clean energy superpower, exporting clean power to the rest of the world. Labour’s world-leading proposals will:
The benefits of this plan are:
[1] https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/uk-gas-power-phase-out/ Labour’s draft amendment: BAN ON FRACKING FOR SHALE GAS BILL That this House calls on the Government to introduce a ban on the hydraulic fracking for shale gas; and makes provision as set out in this Order: (1) On Tuesday 29 November 2022: (a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order) shall not apply; (b) any proceedings governed by this order may be proceeded with until any hour, though opposed, and shall not be interrupted; (c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private); (d) at 3.00 pm, the Speaker shall interrupt any business prior to the business governed by this order and call the Leader of the Opposition or another Member on his behalf to present a Bill concerning a ban on the hydraulic fracking for shale gas of which notice of presentation has been given and immediately thereafter (notwithstanding the practice of the House) call a Member to move the motion that the Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill be now read a second time as if it were an order of the House; (e) in respect of that Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time. (f) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this order may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption. (2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (18) of this order shall apply to and in connection with the proceedings on the Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill in the present Session of Parliament.
Timetable for the Bill on Tuesday 29 November 2022 (3) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be taken at the sitting on Tuesday 29 November 2022 in accordance with this Order. (b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 5.00 pm. (c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 7.00 pm.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put on Tuesday 29 November 2022 (4) When the Bill has been read a second time: (a) it shall, notwithstanding Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put; (b) the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given. (5) (a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question. (b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put. (6) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (3), the Chairman or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply— (a) any Question already proposed from the Chair; (b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed; (c) the Question on any amendment, new clause or new schedule selected by The Chairman or Speaker for separate decision; (d) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a designated Member; (e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and shall not put any other Questions, other than the Question on any motion described in paragraph (15) of this Order. (7) On a Motion made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chairman or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill. Consideration of Lords Amendments and Messages on a subsequent day. (8) If any message on the Bill (other than a message that the House of Lords agrees with the Bill without amendment or agrees with any message from this House) is expected from the House of Lords on any future sitting day, the House shall not adjourn until that message has been received and any proceedings under paragraph (9) have been concluded. (9) On any day on which such a message is received, if a designated Member indicates to the Speaker an intention to proceed to consider that message— (a) notwithstanding Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order), any Lords Amendments to the Bill or any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly; (b) proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under subparagraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed; (c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private) in the course of those proceedings. (10) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments to a conclusion as if: (a) any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member; (b) after paragraph (4)(a) there is inserted— “(aa) the question on any amendment or motion selected by the Speaker for separate decision;”. (11) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings on consideration of a Lords Message to a conclusion as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member; Reasons Committee (12) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to a conclusion in accordance with this Order as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member. Miscellaneous (13) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies. (14) (a) No Motion shall be made, except by a designated Member, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order. (b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion. (c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly. (d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed. (e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion. (15) (a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies except by a designated Member. (b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith. (16) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House. (17) No private business may be considered at any sitting to which the provisions of this order apply. (18) (a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which proceedings to which this Order applies are to take place shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings to which this Order applies. (b) Standing Order 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply in respect of any such debate. (19) In this Order, “a designated Member” means— (a) the Leader of the Opposition; and (b) any other Member acting on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition. (20) This order shall be a Standing Order of the House. |