MP votes to ban fracking

Last night in Parliament, Tim Farron was the only Cumbrian MP to vote in favour of a ban on fracking.

However the motion was voted down by Conservative MPs by 230 votes to 326, despite their party's election manifesto stating they "will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely".

Speaking during the debate in the House of Commons, Tim said: "What fracking will do is add another fossil fuel into the mix at a time when we should be keeping all fossil fuels in the ground.

"Of all the threats that we face as a country and a community, climate change is undoubtedly the greatest, and fossil fuels should be kept in the ground.

"Fracking will also create massive seismic risk. The north west of England, Cumbria and Lancashire, are two of the most geologically active places in the country.

"Fracking is madness. Opting for fracking is divisive and expensive, whereas renewables are popular and cheap."