Rees-Mogg should make his constituency first to be fracked, says Tory MP

theguardian.com:

Jacob Rees-Mogg should “lead by example” and make his the first constituency to be fracked, a Conservative MP has said.

Mark Menzies, the MP for Fylde, challenged the business secretary to start drilling in North East Somerset before imposing fracking on other constituencies.

Menzies’ constituency is one of those that has faced the worst effects of shale gas drilling, with seismic events in Fylde, home to Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, twice forcing national moratoriums.

“I believe the secretary of state has shale gas in his constituency,” he said. “It would be great for him to lead by example on this, so why doesn’t he ensure the first shale wells are fracked in his constituency and why not? There is no more noble cause than leading by example.

“There is nothing to stop him from demanding that North East Somerset is the flagship project. I am sure after listening to him in parliament, he is very confident people will welcome this with open arms, that communities will celebrate. Let us begin with North East Somerset. I think we would applaud him.”

Rees-Mogg did not respond when asked by the Guardian whether he would take up Menzies’ challenge. While British Geographical Survey maps show there could be shale gas under his constituency, there have been no licences granted yet in North East Somerset. However, there are shale gas licences in the neighbouring constituency of Wells, so his constituents would still be affected if those areas were fracked.

Menzies, elected in 2010, has been seeking assurances that the prime minister, Liz Truss, will stick to her pledge to frack areas only after obtaining local consent. This week, the Guardian revealed the government is considering making fracking sites nationally significant