Clydebank politicians on attack over fracking vote

He accused Ms Doyle and the Labour Party of “disgracefully” sitting back and allowing this to happen by abstaining at the infrastructure vote in the House of Commons last week.

However, the MP hit back and said there are other elements of the infrastructure bill that neither she nor her party agreed with.

She went on to challenge why, if the Scottish Government was against fracking, did it not place a veto on fracking in Scotland?

It comes at a time when tensions are rising surrounding the issue in the Scottish political sphere — all parties and campaign groups are straining to make their voices heard.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the controversial method used to extract natural gasses from the crust of the earth.

COCKTAIL Drilling creates a pipeline that can go for miles into the ground in all different directions — a high pressured cocktail of chemicals and water is then blasted into the ground in a bid to fracture the earth and release deposits of gas, which are then drawn in by the well.

It has been widely criticised as a profiteering venture by multinational energy companies and governments at the expense of environment, of which fracking can have a detrimental effect on.

In addition to the highly toxic chemicals used in drilling and fracking fluids, the drilling and fracking processes mobilise dangerous chemicals and radioactive substances naturally occurring in the coal and shale, which can contaminate groundwater and soil, and leak into the atmosphere with consequences for public health and the climate.

Mr Paterson said Ms Doyle’s Labour Party was putting the interests of private firms before the people of Scotland by her abstention from voting on the infrastructure bill.

He told the Post: “Once again, we see our MP put the interests of big business and private companies against the health and well-being of her constituents. So much for Labour values.” Energy giant Ineos has already made its intentions clear to frack in the central belt. Many others have also applied for permission to frack around the rolling countryside of Scotland.

However, Ms Doyle slammed the Scottish Government’s relations with big business and challenged the SNP to to introduce a ban.

The MP said: “No-one needs lectures from the SNP about cosying up to big business given their links with Brian Souter and Donald Trump. I’d be interested to know what conversations they’ve had with Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos, who seems to be powering ahead with his plans for fracking in Scotland.

“The SNP Scottish Government could already have put paid to that but they haven’t.” But Mr Paterson added: “I am appalled that this Labour MP appears to know so little about the consequences of fracking.

BANNED “Is she not aware of the well-documented health risks that this practice has incurred? Many states in America, where fracking has been widespread, have now banned the practice.

“This will also affect house prices throughout the area and cause untold damage to public land.

“The Labour Party acted disgracefully by sitting on their hands instead of voting against the proposal.

“This is a perfect illustration of why all powers over fracking, both licensing and planning, should be transferred to the Scottish Parliament.

“The Smith Commission recognised this, but even in the unlikely event the Smith Commission proposals are speedily enacted by whoever forms the next Westminster Government in May, it is likely to be at least a year until such powers are transferred. A great deal of irreparable damage could be done to homes and land in West Dunbartonshire in the meantime. It is incumbent on Gemma Doyle to immediately explain why she voted against the interests of her constituents.” Defending her position, The MP said: “We voted to stop the Infrastructure Bill from going any further as there are many parts of the Bill which are ill thought out and which we do not support.

“I know many people are concerned about fracking. We have a responsibility to explore all energy sources which could provide cheaper energy, but this bill does not provide the necessary safeguards.

RESPONSIBILITY “The Scottish Government have responsibility for planning but when they issued guidance on this in June they did not include a presumption against fracking, and people in West Dunbartonshire will want to know why.

“Gil Paterson should tell us why his SNP Government choose not to put in place an effective veto on fracking in Scotland. And earlier this year SNP MSPs voted against a moratorium on fracking.

“We called on all decisions on shale gas extraction to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament early in the Smith Agreement and all parties agreed to this.

“The SNP should stop trashing an agreement which their name is on. They could start by telling us if they will support our amendments to the Bill to devolve power over all decisions on fracking which they have yet to do.”