Kezia Dugdale, MSP, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, today announced its opposition to shale gas exploration by use of ‘fracking’ technology.
And she also warned that the SNP-led Scottish Government will ‘give the green light’ to fracking despite its current moratorium on shale gas exploration in Scotland pending the conclusion of independent scientific reports on whether ‘fracking’ can be safely carried out in Scotland.
No such moratorium exists in England.
At Question Time today in Holyrood, Dugdale challenged the First Minister to back her pledge to ban fracking in Scotland.
She said: “The SNP say fracking is bad. They have imposed a temporary freeze. A big report has been ordered. But it looks like they are going to go ahead and do it anyway.
“All across the country SNP candidates are telling voters that there will be no fracking under the SNP.
“Scottish Labour will go into the election with a very clear manifesto commitment. We will oppose fracking. A moratorium is not an outright ban; it’s only a temporary stoppage.
“Her maybes-aye, maybes-naw response can mean only one thing – Nicola Sturgeon plans to give the green light if she is re-elected in May.”
In reply, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Holyrood MPs: “There will be no fracking in Scotland because there is a moratorium on fracking, that is what a moratorium means, it ain’t allowed to happen because we won’t take risks with our environment while there are so many unanswered questions. That is the responsible way of proceeding.”
See also: 2 Mar 2016 Scottish Energy News: http://goo.gl/ejQqhR
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