Despite the SNP’s vehement opposition to fracking throughout the election campaign, it appears they’ve done a u-turn, with fracking companies lining up to start exploring Scotland.
Mr Ratcliffe, whose company owns exploration licences across more than 700 square miles of Scotland, said:
“The Scottish government . . . has said to us they’re not against fracking. But what they do need to do is get comfortable with whether they’re happy with the risks of fracking in Scotland.”
Not good news then for the locals who recently vetoed shale gas drilling in Holyrood and who were under the impression that the SNP joined them in their opposition to fracking.
It’s all still a little uncertain though with the SNP not giving a definitive answer either way.
Fergus Ewing, the SNP’s energy minister, explained:
“Hydraulic fracturing has been carried out in the US on a very large scale. But the central belt of Scotland is not North Dakota. It is different and we need to think how it will be, how it may be, applied to Scotland.
We are taking a careful, considered and evidence-based approach to unconventional oil and gas and the moratorium and the planned public consultation will allow all stakeholders and local communities to have their say.”
Not a good enough answer for The Scottish Conservatives, who are in favour of fracking and demanding clarity from the SNP. Murdo Fraser, the party’s energy spokesman said:
“It is utterly hypocritical of the SNP to appear to oppose fracking within local communities but bang the drum for it at senior level. This revelation will be awkward for Nicola Sturgeon, who has a legion of new supporters automatically tuned against fracking to please.”
A point well made we think. With the general elections over for another 5 years, we suspect the SNP will bend on their morals for a lucrative fracking deal.