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On Monday, I voted to freeze David Cameron’s plan to frack in Somerset.

He and George Osborne are, in their own words "all out for shale" and "hell bent" on importing this new process into our small, beautiful but densely-populated island in the misguided belief that fracking is the answer to all our energy problems.

I object. It is no secret that I am vehemently opposed to fracking. I have spoken out against it over several years.

Climate Change is real and digging up and burning fossil fuels is wrong not going to help us meet our targets.

High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing - 'fracking' - is a relatively new process (starred in 2008 in the US) which requires millions of gallons of water and a cocktail of chemicals.

I represent the constituency of Wells, not far from Bath. As they say, "the clue is in the name"! Water, water everywhere ... but with fracking?

Rain which falls in my area feeds the famous spas at Bath and the amazing Somerset Levels and Moors, which are criss-crossed by dozens of man-made channels and called 'rhynes' locally.

Water is really important here. Well irrigated land supports our farmers and market gardeners produce the milk, butter, apples, cider, Cheddar cheese and strawberries for which Somerset is do well known. Anything which risks contamination of our groundwater should be avoided at all costs.

The lanes in my part of the world won't cope with the fleets of lorries needed to haul the fresh water on site or the vast numbers of HGVs needed to take the toxic waste water off site.

Not to mention the fact that no one has a clue where this waste will be stored.

Our rules and regulations are too weak. Fracking carries the risk of spillages and leaks at every stage of the process: exploration, exploitation and after the wells are abandoned.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has, quite rightly, assessed the risks associated with fracking and has introduced a new clause into its commercial insurance policies. It won’t insure anything that happens as a result of fracking. Where the NFU leads, others may follow.

What is so worrying about this is that the two largest parties have rammed the Infrastructure Bill through Parliament with changes to our ancient trespass laws, meaning no one has a choice whether fracking happens under their house, garden, business or farmland.

And tenant farmers, market gardeners and landowners will not be able to protect themselves against and any loss or damage to property, stock, crops or land as a result of fracking.

This is deeply unfair. Fracking is no act of God. It is an act of man. But those who are at risk will have no control over events nor any way to protect themselves.

Who will protect us if this all goes wrong?

Countries like Germany and Bulgaria have banned High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing; France and the Netherlands have announced a moratorium, as has Quebec in Canada. New York State and the residents of Denton have voted for a complete ban.

The town of Denton in Texas was one of the first places in the USA where fracking was permitted.

It is possibly the most fracked town in the USA. Within its boundaries are 260 fracking wells. Energy companies have fracked under churches, schools, tennis courts, college campuses, sports stadia and countless private properties.

Recently the population of Denton revolted, and voted to end fracking in their town.

I draw your attention to Denton because it is not some huge city in the US. In fact, Denton is roughly the same size as Taunton, one of the many market towns which pepper the English countryside.

There is no evidence that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have listened to, or checked the science of, those who are wary.

In fact, the opposite seems to be the case.

On Monday morning, press reports said George Osborne had written a letter requesting 'that Ministers make dozens of interventions to fast-track fracking as a “personal priority”, including the delivery of numerous “asks” from shale gas company Cuadrilla and asking them to intervene in local planning, and offering public land for potential future drilling'.

By lunchtime, we knew all Labour Party MPs were being pressured by one of the biggest unions - The GMB union wrote to Labour MPs begging them to support fracking.

This may go some way to explaining the confusion over Labour's 180˚ about-turn when it came to voting later in the day. The party had previously stated its support for a moratorium.

And that same morning, the respected Environmental Audit Select Committee published its report calling for a moratorium on fracking.

Unfortunately, the Labour Party sat on its hands on Monday and didn’t vote for the moratorium.

However, I joined 51 MPs and voted against the Government in favour of a moratorium.

Disappointingly, we were robbed of an opportunity to debate the changes to trespass laws. Labour had called a spurious vote on fracking in Scotland - a matter which has been devolved. Chaos ensued!

The effect of this time-wasting was that MPs ran out of time and no vote could be called on the changes to trespass laws.

Finally, Labour failed to call a vote on the Bill as a whole at the end of the day and the Infrastructure Bill passed quietly into legislation.

My job is to defend and represent Somerset, its people, businesses, visitors and environment.

But when it came to the crunch, I couldn't agree that fracking is wise. I voted with my conscience and against the Government.

And on Tuesday, I confirmed my intentions to continue campaigning against the Conservatives' plans for fracking in Somerset.

I then tendered my resignation from the junior ministerial job working for Vince Cable the Business Secretary, which I've enjoyed so much for the last three years, and which I believe has brought benefits to my part of Somerset.

I continue on the backbenches as the MP for Wells with my conscience clear and a spring in my step!

The campaign continues and the petition is still live - please sign and share.