Fracking ban debate: How Lancashire MPs voted

The motion, brought forward to try and ban fracking in the UK, was tabled by Labour.

Conservative MPs were made subject to a strict three-line whip to reject Labour’s motion, with the vote being seen as a confidence vote in under pressure Prime Minister Liz Truss rather than purely just about fracking.

Truss announced she wanted to re-start fracking in the UK to try and reduce the country’s reliance on imported gas, which has been shown to be volatile with the war in Ukraine.

The practice is highly controversial, and works were paused years ago due to fears over earthquakes and the damage to communities; areas of Lancashire have been affected by companies wanting to frack the county, with 17 fracking licences in place across the county.

Saying she wants to re-introduce fracking, Ms Truss said it will only be done where there is community support – but so far has given no indication on how this would be measured.

Labour’s motion was defeated last night, but not all Conservative MPs obeyed the three-line whip and there was chaos in the Commons last night with accusations that ministers were manhandling MPs into the voting lobbies.

Some Tory MPs spoke out saying the party had been destroyed by people who put ‘personal interests over the national interest’; the end of another calamitous day for the Government as Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned and Truss’ performance at Prime Minister's Questions proved underwhelming to say the least.

A map showing all the areas of Lancashire covered by fracking licences. Pic: Friends of the Earth (Image: Friends of the Earth)

This is how Lancashire’s MPs voted on whether to debate banning fracking in the UK

• Kate Hollern, Blackburn (Labour) – voted for a debate
• Jake Berry, Rossendale and Darwen (Conservative) – voted against
• Sara Britcliffe, Hyndburn (Con) – voted against
• Antony Higginbotham, Burnley (Con) – voted against
• Andrew Stephenson, Pendle (Con) – voted against
• Nigel Evans, Ribble Valley (Con) – abstained (as Deputy Speaker he does not vote)
• Katherine Fletcher, South Ribble (Con) – voted against
• Mark Hendrick, Preston (Lab) – voted for
• Ben Wallace (Defence Secretary), Wyre and Preston North (Con) – abstained
• Rosie Cooper, West Lancashire (Lab) – abstained
• Cat Smith, Lancaster and Fleetwood (Lab) – voted for
• Paul Maynard, Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Con) – voted against
• Scott Benton, Blackpool South (Con) – voted against
• David Morris, Morecambe and Lunesdale (Con) – voted against
• Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker), Chorley (Independent) – abstained (Speaker of the House of Commons does not vote).

Perhaps as a blow to Ms Truss’ authority, Ben Wallace – Defence Secretary and one of the most respected members of the cabinet, who has won widespread praise for his handling and leadership of the UK’s role in supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion – abstained from the vote.

His constituency spreads across both Wyre and Preston local authorities, where three fracking licences covering almost 84 per cent of the total area are in place.

It was also somewhat surprising to see the soon-to-be-departing MP Rosie Cooper abstain – although when MPs are unable to be present to vote they pair off with another member in the interests of fairness, which could explain this.

With the threat of suspension from the party for not following party lines, it is unsurprising to see the rest of the county’s MPs obey the whip – but it may be disheartening to some residents in the county concerned about fracking and the impact it may have on their communities and the environment to see their MPs refuse to consider banning the practice.