UK's new prime minister reimposes fracking ban in England

LONDON

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reimposed the ban on fracking in England, reversing a decision by his predecessor, Liz Truss, his official spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Earlier, during the prime minister’s questions, Caroline Lucas, an MP from the opposition Green Party, asked Sunak if he would restore the effective fracking ban, as mentioned in the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto, which stated that the they would “not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.”

The lifting of the ban was the final vote taken by the government of Liz Truss.

It was controversial not just in the country, where fracking remains unpopular, especially among environmental groups, but also within the Conservative Party, with MPs complaining they were strong-armed into backing the government on that vote.

Sunak said in parliament: “I have already said I stand by the manifesto on that.”

The prime minister’s spokesman later confirmed it to reporters.