Fracking move won't make up for Tory neglect of the environment

Responding the Government ending support for fracking in the UK, former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said:

"A moratorium on fracking is welcome but it is not a ban. Liberal Democrats back an immediate ban now - given the evidence we are now in a climate emergency.

"The law Liberal Democrats passed to protect communities from earthquakes and seismic tremors caused by fracking has done a lot to prevent the Conservatives pressing ahead with fracking. It is not surprising to me that our brake has now led to this.

"But this belated, eve of election policy pause won't distract voters from the Tories' shocking record on the environment - not least the Prime Minister's, when he lobbied to relax air pollution laws.

"With Johnson desperate to please his climate change denier friend, Donald Trump, we know that Brexit would see a bonfire of environmental regulations. The Tories are about as eco-friendly as a dustbin fire.

"This election gives the public an opportunity to vote for a brighter future. A Liberal Democrat government would declare a climate crisis and introduce a radical new programme of investment in clean, climate technology."