Boris Johnson accused of fracking U-turn as firms ‘could be allowed to drill for shale gas’ just days after Tories announced ban Exclusive: The Government has slipped out a document which reveals ministers may allow more fracking in future

Boris Johnson has been accused of U-turning on his fracking ban after the Government opened the door to more shale gas drilling in future.

The Tories announced they would stop all fracking in England at the start of the general election campaign – but just three days later, they quietly issued a document which contradicts that promise, i can reveal.

Civil servants said that “future applications will be considered on their own merits” despite the supposed ban. And they also said there was “considerable merit” in loosening planning laws so local councils would no longer be able to block firms from drilling for shale gas.

The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

Green campaigners and opposition politicians accused the Conservatives of trying to keep fracking alive through the back door. But the Tories insisted the ban remains in place, saying: “Fracking is off the table.”

Frack moratorium

Hydraulic fracturing involves blasting liquid into shale rock formations to open cracks in the rock and allow natural gas to escape. It has been blamed for causing dozens of small earthquakes when it has been carried out in England, principally in Lancashire. Campaigners also oppose it because the gas produced contributes to climate change when it is consumed.

Defenders insist the technique could bring an energy revolution to the UK similar to that experienced in America, bringing down the cost of gas. But on 1 November the Tories bowed to pressure and announced fracking would be banned “until compelling new evidence is provided” that shows it can be done safely. There is already an indefinite moratorium on fracking in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

On 4 November, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a response to a consultation on shale gas exploration which appears to contradict the new policy. It warns firms that the Government is generally opposed to fracking but does not rule out accepting new applications.

The document says: “It should be noted that the Government has made clear that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, and in the absence of compelling new evidence, it has taken a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents. While future applications will be considered on their own merits by the Secretary of State in accordance with the law, the shale gas industry should take the Government’s position into account when considering new developments.”

Receive more election analysis from me every weekday lunchtime by signing up to the i on politics newsletter here

The report reveals that 97.5 per cent of respondents rejected the use of “permitted development rights”, which would allow developers to avoid having to seek planning permission when embarking on some shale gas projects. But it adds: “There could be considerable merit in taking forward these proposals in the future.”

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told i: “You can’t trust a word the Tories say on fracking. In just over a week their policy has evolved from a ‘ban’ to a ‘temporary pause’ and now, seemingly, an extreme ‘frack-at-will’ policy imported from Trump’s USA.

“Communities have fought back hard against the Tories’ efforts to force through dangerous fracking in their backyards. After years of the Tories cooking the evidence and ignoring court rulings on fracking, they won’t be taken in by a phoney ban. A Labour government will ban on fracking.”

‘Mixed signals’

Other political parties also joined the criticism – Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: “Once again it’s clear to see the Conservatives cannot be trusted on fracking. It should be unthinkable that in the middle of a climate emergency the Tories are keeping the door open to more fracking.” Lib Dem climate spokesperson Wera Hobhouse added: “Boris Johnson’s Conservatives sold a lie when they announced a ban on fracking. A moratorium is not a ban.”

Campaign groups said the revelation showed that the fracking ban should be written into law. Jamie Peters of Friends of the Earth said: “It’s imperative that communities remain vigilant and push for the current moratorium to be locked in legislation by the next government.”

Greenpeace’s Rebecca Newsom added: “These mixed signals are confusing and unhelpful. At best, ministers don’t have control over their own civil service, whose policy work has not caught up with the political reality. At worst, the Government is not serious about stopping fracking and this is a sign of the loopholes they are trying to sneak through.”

John Hobson of Frack Free Lancashire warned against allowing firms to bypass the planning process and said: “This fudge has all of the hallmarks of a Government who are trying desperately to please all sides in this argument, but are failing to please anybody. It is time they applied a single approach, consistent with the evidence, and banned all fracking permanently.”

A Conservative party spokesperson said: “The Government has placed a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect by making it our policy not to issue any Hydraulic Fracturing Consents. This does not technically prevent applications but it does mean that they will be refused.

“We have also ruled out any changes to the planning system, having listened to local residents. Fracking is now off the table. We would only ever change our position if both the science supported it and communities wanted it.”

MHCLG said the Government had decided not to introduce permitted development rights for shale drilling and added that the issue of planning permission was separate to the decision to impose a general moratorium.