Day: November 2, 2019

    A halt to fracking called by the government has been branded an election stunt by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The suspension in the run-up to the 12 December poll came after scientific research raised fresh fears over the risk of earthquakes linked to the controversial method of extracting shale gas. It marks a major U-turn by the Tories including Boris Johnson, who once hailed fracking as glorious news for humanity. The moratorium comes after a report by the Oil and Gas Authority found it is not currently possible to accurately predict the likelihood of strength of earthquakes connected to fracking operations. Fracking has provoked protests at sites across the country including Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the issue was expected to feature prominently campaigni...

    Boris Johnson has rejected Nigel Farage's offer to form a Leave alliance. With the general election campaign now under way, the prime minister told Sky's Sophy Ridge: I've ruled out a pact with everybody because I don't think it's sensible to do that. We're proud of our beliefs, we're proud of our One Nation Conservatism. Brexit Party leader Mr Farage said on Friday he would hold back from fielding a candidate in every seat in Britain if the PM dropped his EU Withdrawal Agreement and joined him in a non-aggression pact. But Mr Johnson insisted he would not do a deal with any party leader over the 12 December election. He said: The only likely consequence of voting for them [other party leaders], rather than for us as Conservatives, is that you are making it more ...