Corbyn supports fracking protests

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has congratulated Lancashire residents and the county council for standing up to fracking.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in BlackpoolLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in Blackpool
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in Blackpool

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has congratulated Lancashire residents and the county council for standing up to fracking.

Mr Corbyn made his remarks in Blackpool after addressing a rally attended by 500 trade unionists and supporters in the Winter Gardens.

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The recently-elected leader said he was opposed to shale gas extraction in principle.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in BlackpoolLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in Blackpool
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the North West Labour conference in Blackpool

Cuadrilla’s applications to frack for shale gas at Little Plumpton, near Blackpool, and Roseacre Wood, near Elswick, were rejected by Lancashire County Council this summer. An appeal will be heard next year.

In the meantime the Government has continued to support the shale gas industry and has been accused of relaxing rules and regulations to help fracking get the go-ahead.

Mr Corbyn said he was “worried” about fracking.

He added: “There appears to be a lot of people who are against fracking and well done to them and to Lancashire County Council for their opposition to it.”

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Mr Corbyn was in the resort for the North West Labour Party’s annual conference at the Imperial Hotel.

More than 800 delegates, including Deputy Leader Tom Watson, were attending along with regional leaders and MPs.

Later Mr Corbyn attended a TUC/Labour party rally in the Winter Gardens, where there was massive vocal opposition to the Government’s Trade Union Bill.

The Labour leader said he was proud to be a member of a trade union and was delighted that the TUC and Labour were working together to fight some of the Tory Government’s more extreme policies.

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He said: “This is a political choice they (the Government) have made – tax cuts for the rich. We are a party that is challenging the austerity budget. You can invest your way to growth, and improve the living standards of the poorest, not the richest.”

Mr Corbyn said the battle against tax credits was gathering momentum.

“We are not going to let them do it!” he said.

Mr Corbyn said most people in the room wanted to see a democratically-elected House of Lords – but he congratulated them for stalling the Tories’ tax credits plan.

Speaking afterwards to the Gazette, Mr Corbyn said he was “worried” about fracking and well aware of the ongoing battle over shale gas exploration in Lancashire.

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The Government has openly said shale gas should be given a chance.

And only days a Commons committee voted to make changes to allow fracking to take place more than 1,200 metres below sites including national parks and sites of special scientific interest.

Mr Corbyn said he was concerned about pollution, the effect on the environment and possible earth tremors. He said Labour was looking to promote safe alternative sources of energy.

Asked about the Government’s support for shale gas in principle, he said: “It’s fraught with difficulties. I realise there are people that think it’s a good idea, but there are many against it.”

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Mr Corbyn was also asked about Trident and the possible implications for the defence industry in Lancashire where around 10,000 people are employed by BAE Systems making the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Hawk and parts of the F-35.

Mr Corbyn is on record saying he wants to scrap Britain’s nuclear deterrent. He pointed out that Trident and the building of Eurofighter were two different issues and needed to be deal with separately in the defence spending review.