Caroline Lucas has responded to the Government's decision to back plans for fracking in Lancashire.
Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party and Brighton Pavilion MP, said Sajid Javid’s support for firm Cuadrilla “ignored the people of Lancashire” – including the local council who threw the plans out last year.
Lucas said:
“Today’s decision shows the yawning gap between the Government’s rhetoric and the reality of their policies – and it will send a shiver down the spine of the many people up and down the country fighting fracking.
“Ministers promise to support “ordinary people” but have ignored the people of Lancashire – including local and district councillors and the overwhelming majority of local people who objected to these reckless plans. They claim to support the Paris Agreement, but are hell-bent on developing new fossil fuel projects.
“Fracking is a dirty, expensive and dangerous gamble with our environment, security and economy. We should be choosing an energy system powered by the renewable sources that we have in abundance and keep fossil fuels in the ground.”