MPs allege bullying during chaotic fracking vote
Wed, October 19, 2022
Conservative MPs were bullied and manhandled into backing Liz Truss in a vote on fracking, according to MPs who witnessed the scenes.
Cabinet ministers deny claims they used physical force to persuade colleagues to vote with the government.
But Labour's Chris Bryant called for an investigation into what "looked like bullying".
Meanwhile, Tory MPs told the BBC that chief whip Wendy Morton, and the deputy chief whip, are no longer in post.
One furious Tory MP described the chaotic events as a "shambles and a disgrace".
Visibly shaken, senior Conservative MP Charles Walker said what he saw as "inexcusable" and there was "no coming back" for the government.
Live updates: Braverman quits amid chaotic scenes in Parliament
Shapps replaces Braverman as home secretary
Why are you still here, Starmer asks Truss
To Tory MPs who backed Liz Truss to be prime minister, Mr Walker said "I hope it was worth it".
When asked about allegations made by MPs, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News to "characterise it as bullying was mistaken".
Mr Bryant spoke in the House of Commons after a Labour lost a vote on banning fracking despite a Tory rebellion.
He said MPs should be able to vote "without fear or favour", saying "we want to stand up against bullying".
Labour had tried to use the vote to force the introduction of a law to ban fracking.
Tory whips ordered their MPs to vote against the motion or face being suspended, telling them it was test of confidence in Ms Truss.
But the process was thrown into confusion at the last minute when climate minister Graham Stuart suggest it was not a confidence vote.
Chaotic scenes in the voting lobby followed, as whips tried to get Tory MPs to oppose the Labour motion.
The government won the vote by 326 votes to 230 - a government majority of 96.
The division list on the Parliament's website showed 40 Conservative MPs did not take part, including Ms Truss and Chief Whip Wendy Morton.
Labour shadow minister Anna McMorrin wrote on Twitter that she witnessed one Conservative MP "in tears" in the lobby after the vote.
Ms McMorrin tweeted: "Extraordinary stuff happening here during the vote on fracking which is apparently 'not a confidence vote'.
"I've just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking."
Labour MP Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said he witnessed "whips screaming at Tories" and described it as "open warfare".
The vote was the first parliamentary test of the government's fracking plans, but was never likely to be successful given the size of the Conservatives' majority.
Tory MPs to rebel against government over fracking despite threat of losing whip
Tory MPs to rebel against government over fracking despite threat of losing whip
Jane Dalton
Wed, October 19, 2022 at 11:08 AM·2 min read
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.
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.
Tory MPs to rebel against government over fracking despite threat of losing whip
Jane Dalton
Wed, October 19, 2022 at 11:08 AM·2 min read
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment