Boris Johnson accused of 'election stunt' and U-turn on shale gas extraction or fracking suspension

The UK government has called a halt to shale gas extraction - or fracking - in England amid fears about earthquakes.

The indefinite suspension comes after a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said it was not possible to predict the probability or size of tremors caused by the practice.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said it may be temporary - imposed "until and unless" extraction is proved safe.

Boris Johnson also revealed he had "very significant anxieties" over the issue, despite previously claiming that no stone should be left "unfracked" while he was mayor of London.

The most powerful tremor caused by fracking in the UK, measuring 2.9 on the local magnitude scale, was felt by people across the Fylde district in Lancashire on 26 August 2019. It was one of more than 300 seismic event caused by the resumption of fracking at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site.

Last Wednesday fraction was discussed during PMQs in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister’s comment followed a question by the shadow energy minister, Alan Whitehead (Labour Southampton Test), who said the Labour Party’s election manifesto would include a “full ban on the extraction of fossil fuels by fracking”.

Dr Whitehead asked what chance the Prime Minister thought he had in matching Labour’s offer.

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