Tory MPs to rebel against government over fracking despite threat of losing whip

At least three plan to defy three-line whip in vote designed by Labour to threaten government

Tory MPs are openly saying they will vote against the government over fracking – even if they lose the party whip as a punishment.

The vote, on Wednesday evening, is considered a ploy by Labour to try to bring down the government, and the rebellion adds to the pressure Liz Truss’s government is facing.

In an extraordinary instruction, the Tory deputy chief whip declared the clash “a confidence motion” – a status normally given to a vote on the future of a government itself.

It “is a 100 per cent hard 3 line whip”, an email to Conservative MP read, adding: “This is not a motion on fracking. This is a confidence motion in the government.”

But former energy minister Chris Skidmore, who signed net-zero pledges into law, tweeted: “For the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 General Election.

“I am prepared to face the consequences of my decision.”

Former sports minister Tracey Crouch and MP Angela Richardson both said they would follow suit and were prepared to lose the whip.

Ms Richardson has already called for Liz Truss to resign.

Treasury minister Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, wrote: “Personally, I do not and have never supported fracking in West Sussex as our dangerous local roads would never support the additional vehicle movements, even if residents consented.”

Labour is attempting to ban the return of fracking with an opposition day vote which, if it passes, will set aside Commons time to force a further binding vote on fracking itself.

Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg sought to limit a Tory rebellion over shale gas extraction by insisting communities will have a veto on fracking in their area.

He said national government would be unable to overrule the objections from communities, with one option under consideration involving local referendums for areas where fracking is proposed.

Mr Rees-Mogg, in a message directed at Conservative MPs, told the Commons: “There’s an absolute local consent lock.

“Any process to determine local consent must be run independently and this House will vote on any scheme that we bring forward.”

Conservative MP Mark Menzies said he opposed fracking but that he would not support Labour’s motion as they had “gone too far” by taking control of the order paper.

The prime minister’s lifting of a fracking ban imposed in 2019 over earthquake concerns breaks a Tory manifesto pledge not to end the moratorium without science “categorically” showing it is safe.