The Lancaster MP has expressed ‘huge relief’ over the government’s decision to reinstate the moratorium on fracking.
Cat Smith said although it hopefully meant the process wouldn’t return to Lancashire, there still needed to a firm ban on it.
Liz Truss had lifted the ban on drilling for shale gas the Tories implemented in 2019 as she said it would help with rising energy costs. But the measure was not backed by many whose constituents are against fracking in their areas.
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the new prime minister Rishi Sunak said he stands "by the manifesto" on fracking.
The Conservative 2019 manifesto placed a moratorium on fracking in England following opposition from environmentalists and local communities.
Mr Sunak's spokesman explicitly confirmed he was reinstating the ban after PMQs.
Ms Truss lifted the ban last month as part of her plan to limit rising energy costs but said fracking would only resume where there was local consent.
Fracking was ultimately what brought her government down after Labour tabled an opposition day motion last Wednesday calling for a draft law to ban fracking.
But the Tory party whips said the motion was actually a vote of confidence in the government and told Conservative MPs they had to vote against it or face being suspended.
However, many of them and their constituents are opposed to fracking and said they could not vote to support fracking, even if the whips saw the vote as something different.
As the vote was taking place there were accusations of "bullying" and "manhandling" of Tory MPs who were being told to vote against the motion.
The following day, Ms Truss stepped down as PM.
Ed Miliband, Labour's shadow climate and net zero secretary, said Mr Sunak voted against Labour's fracking ban last week and is now putting a moratorium on the practice.
"Whatever their latest position, the truth is that the Tories have shown that they cannot be trusted on the issue of fracking," he said.
Ms Truss had to make a number of U-turns after her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng brought in a raft of unfunded tax cuts which unleashed economic turmoil in the UK for weeks.
The fracking ban is the first Truss policy he has reversed since he became PM on Tuesday.
Musician takes centre stage at Chelsea Flower Show with songs about Morecambe
Lancaster bridge reopens after police incident
LISTEN: New relaxed group for adults with ADHD formed in Lancaster
Greens win city council by-election in Lancaster
Morecambe woman to star in dramatic new TV reality quiz show with Danny Dyer and Emily Atack
Excitement as The Bay returns to Morecambe for filming of new series
Lancaster University lecturer pens episode of popular CBeebies TV programme
Young Morecambe change makers invited to Westminster
Heysham power station team leads large-scale community litter pick
Body found in Lancaster park in search for missing local man
PHOTOS: Eden Project Morecambe garden wins award on star-studded day at Chelsea Flower Show
Over 50s ‘youth club’ in Morecambe reduces hours due to ‘lack of footfall’
Under threat Lancaster day centre will remain open
'Look for a Book' event returns to Lancaster and Morecambe
Operation Sceptre tackles knife crime across Lancaster district
Eden Project Morecambe will become a ‘theatre of science like nowhere else on earth’
‘True local’ begins his year as mayor of Lancaster
Lancaster University research shows care home falls cut by a third with use of smart lights
Angela Rippon and ‘Eric and Little Ern’ launch Bring Me Sunshine Garden at Chelsea Flower Show
Talk and trail celebrating life of city’s groundbreaking inventor will mark Lancaster Day
