Tim Farron tables motion in Parliament calling for Minister to reject Cumbria coal mine plans

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has tabled a motion in Parliament calling for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, to reject planning permission for the controversial coal mine in Cumbria.

It comes after the government have said that there was an “error of law” in the decision to grant planning permission for the new mine - and will no longer be defending the claims in the High Court on Tuesday.

If the court rules next week that the decision was incorrect, the planning application will go back to the Secretary of State to make a fresh decision.

Tim’s Early Day Motion also calls for investment to be made in Cumbria for alternative sources of high skilled employment in green industries.

Tim said: “I’m really encouraged to see the Government drop its support for the environmentally-backwards coal mine.

“If the High Court rules against the mine then Angela Rayner must consign these plans to the scrapheap where they belong.

“Her Government must urgently invest in renewable energy in Cumbria, providing long-term jobs, tackling rising bills, and improving our country's energy security