Fracking has met public opposition - and is now banned again under Rishi Sunak's governmentImage caption: Fracking has met public opposition - and is now banned again under Rishi Sunak's government
Fracking is a process which involves extracting gas and oil from shale rocks.
It has only taken place on a very small scale so far in the UK - and it's very controversial.
It's seen by some proponents as one way for the UK to boost its domestic energy supply. But it's opposed by environmental groups, over concerns about earth tremors and the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change, as well as by opposition parties and the Scottish and Welsh governments.
Different Conservative administrations in Westminster have taken different stances over the past few years.
New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today aligned himself with the 2019 Tory manifesto - which pledged to maintain a ban on the practice in England.
Fracking had been halted earlier that year, after scientists said they weren't sure about the size of tremors the practice could cause.
Liz Truss lifted the moratorium during her brief time in office, saying she was in favour of fracking in places where there was local support. Sunak had taken the same line during the summer leadership contest between the two politicians.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak said there were “3,500 more
doctors and over 9,000 more nurses working this year than last”.
He’s got his numbers about right. There were about 4,000
more community and hospital doctors, and 9,230 more nurses and health visitors
working in the NHS in England in June 2022 (the latest figures available) compared
with the previous June. That’s an increase of about
3% each.
That might mean there are more staff coming on board, but
possibly not fast enough to keep up with growing demand.
Why is the fiscal statement delayed?
Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent
Why has the government delayed the fiscal statement due next
week?
Of course there’s the fact there’s a new PM who will want
to study the plans.
But it’s also because the economic picture isn’t quite as
bad as was thought.
I’m told the current estimate received by the Treasury is
that the black hole to be filled is around £35bn. That’s less than the
roughly £40bn it was.
These figures can fluctuate based on borrowing
costs and other things. So it isn’t an exact science.
But the chancellor thinks
he’s working with a slightly better backdrop now. And he and the PM want to see
if it gets better.
Sunak and family will live in No 10 Downing St
Chris Mason
Political editor
The Sunak family will live in the flat above No 10 Downing
Street.
This is smaller than the flat above No 11, which has often
been used by prime ministers, especially those with children.
But the prime minister’s official spokesman told
reporters Rishi Sunak, his wife and daughters were moving back into the No 10 flat
they had been happy to occupy when the PM was chancellor.
Minister pressed on India-UK trade talks
More from the House of Commons now, where Labour have tabled an Urgent Question about the progress on negotiating a UK-India trade deal.
Labour's Nick Thomas Symonds says in January this year, negotiations on the deal began with the government promising to conclude these talks by Diwali this week.
He says promised progress on new trade deals has not materialised saying: "They're all talk and no delivery".
He also highlights what he described as "offensive" comments by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman on overstaying UK visas, when she said: "The largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants."
He asks Greg Hands to agree the home secretary has "completely undermined the UK government's negotiations" and asks whether she will withdraw those comments - and whether a future target date for the deal has been agreed.
Hands responds by saying the majority of the chapters on the deal - 16 chapters across 26 policy areas - have been agreed so far.
On Braverman's visa comments, he suggest the MP is "trying to have a second grab at the home secretary", and says she was referring to mode 4 arrangements, which relate to business visas not for permanent settlement. "That remains an area of active negotiation", he says.
Hands says Labour haven't supported a single trade deal to date.
BreakingSunak has reintroduced fracking ban - Downing Street
Rishi Sunak has reintroduced the moratorium on fracking in England, Downing Street has confirmed.
The prime minister's official spokesman confirmed the move after the new PM was pressed on the issue by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas at his first Prime Minister's Questions.
He told the Commons he "stands by" the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto and insisted his government would deliver on what was agreed at the UN Cop26 Glasgow climate talks.
Former PM Liz Truss had said she was lifting the ban, in areas where fracking was wanted, as she argued it would strengthen the country's energy supply.
No decisions made on defence spending - Downing Street
Downing Street is not committing
to increasing defence spending by 3% of GDP by 2030 - which Liz Truss had pledged.
The prime minister's spokesperson said
the issue would be set out at a “future fiscal event” referring to the chancellor’s autumn statement, now due on 17 November.
No decisions have been made on defence spending or
significant spending as is custom ahead of a fiscal event, he said, adding that
energy bill support will continue throughout the winter.
Sunak junks remnants of Truss policies
Chris Mason
Political editor
The last few weeks saw the near total junking of Liz
Truss’s programme for government.
Today at Rishi Sunak’s first PMQs, it felt like the last
remaining remnants of her ideas were lobbed in the skip.
So her flirtation with fracking in England is junked.
Sunak has reverted to the promise in the 2019
Conservative manifesto to maintain a ‘moratorium’ on it.
It was also strongly hinted that the government will
raise those benefits that don’t automatically go up in line with inflation by
the same rate as inflation.
Liz Truss was tempted to put them up in line with average
earnings instead.
So what about pensions? Will they go up in line with
spiralling prices too? The prime minister’s official spokesman was less
categorical about that, but the importance of the manifesto was repeatedly
referenced - and this was a manifesto promise too, to raise the state pension
by whatever was higher: 2.5%, earnings, or prices.
On immigration, again Sunak’s team referred back to
the manifesto - with its commitment to falling net migration.
"But the exact mix will be set out in due course," his
spokesman said, adding that this would be set in order to reflect the "skills
and talents" the economy required.
Double U-turn on fracking by Sunak at PMQs
Jonah Fisher
Environment correspondent
During the leadership
campaign this summer, Rishi Sunak was asked directly “Fracking - yes or no, will
you support it?”
His response mirrored
that of his opponent Liz Truss: “Yes, if local
communities support it.”
At PMQs today that
position appears to have now shifted.
“I
stand by the manifesto on this,” Sunak said
when asked about the moratorium on fracking by Green MP Caroline Lucas.
That 2019 Conservative
party manifesto stated that the ban would not be
changed unless “the science shows categorically that it can be done safely".
That has not happened,
so on the face of it this appears to be a double reversal.
Both the Truss
adminstration’s lifting of the moratorium and Sunak’s expressed views at the
election debate three months ago have changed. We've asked the government to clarify.
It involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer in order to release the gas inside.
Much of India trade deal already agreed - minister
We're now hearing the second Urgent Question that followed PMQs in the House of Commons.
Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds asks for an update on the progress of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Greg Hands, the Minister for Trade Policy, calls India an "economic superpower" and says an FTA would improve access to its "dynamic market". He says the government is negotiating an ambitious FTA that "works for both countries" and that the "majority of chapters" of the agreement have already been reached, with more rounds expected shortly.
He added that the deal would drive growth, support jobs across the UK, and help British goods to reach India's growing middle class".
Reality Check
Will the government meet its police target?
During PMQs a little earlier, Sunak said to Starmer: “I
would hope he would welcome the news today that there are over 15,000 new
police officers on our streets.”
The Conservative Party manifesto in 2019 set a target to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales by March 2023.
That was an attempt to reverse the cuts in the period since 2010, when the number of officers had fallen by about 19,000.
Today,
figures show that just over 15,300
of those officers have been recruited. This means that police forces still have to recruit almost
5,000 more officers to meet the Spring deadline.
Braverman breach much more serious than suggested - Hillier
Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier says that Jeremy Quin talks as if Braverman's breach of the ministerial code is similar to that of a junior member of staff who's made an inadvertent clerical error.
"This was the home secretary who released secret information through a personal email address," she says.
"It suggests a pattern of behaviour that she thinks it's OK to snap on her phone at four in the morning and make this atrocious mistake."
She says it's much more serious than the way the minister is trying to paint it. She asks him to recognise that this is on "a different scale".
Jeremy Quin denies he's trying to present it in any way other than the facts contained in Braverman's resignation letter, which "set out she had made a mistake and apologised".
Will Braverman be investigated by adviser?
Labour MP Angela Eagle asks whether Braverman will be investigated once an independent adviser on the ministerial code is appointed?
Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin says that what took place under the last administration - that of Liz Truss - "would not be properly part of the remit of the independent adviser" and so Braverman would not be subject to investigation by that person.
PM intends to appoint independent adviser - Quin
The SNP's Stuart C McDonald says he doesn't think the ministerial code is "worth the paper it's written on" and calls Braverman's appointment an "absolute disgrace".
He asks: "How can the PM ever talk again about integrity and passion in politics after blatantly making an appointment in his own interest, which is against everybody else's interests?"
Jeremy Quin responds saying it's the PM's intention to appoint an independent adviser, and reminds the MP that Braverman acknowledged her mistakes and stepped down.
Jenkin notes Blair reappointed a sacked minister
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin says that former Prime Minister Tony Blair removed a senior minister for breaching the ministerial code, before later reappointing that person to government.
He adds he believes the public will respect the fact "we have a system that holds ministers accountable" but that there is also an opportunity to learn from those mistakes.
Jeremy Quinn says he agrees, saying that if people have made a mistake, and accepted it, then there should be space for them to be reappointed.
Has there been investigation into Braverman data breach? - Cooper
Cooper points out that Braverman is responsible for national security as home secretary - and asks what level of security clearance Braverman has been given over sensitive information.
Cooper requests to know whether an investigation has been undertaken into the email data breach, and adds: "Is this the only time [Braverman] has done this?"
Jeremy Quin says that he cannot comment on speculation, saying: "At the end of the day, the home secretary made a mistake, acknowledged it, offered her resignation and stood down.
"The PM has decided she can return to government... and she is busy today, as she will be, doing the job of the home secretary and keeping our borders secure."
Labour's Yvette Cooper asks urgent question on Braverman reappointment
Events are moving along in the Commons and Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked an urgent question about the Home Secretary Suella Braverman's resignation and reappointment. She asks, where is the home secretary?
Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin says the home secretary made an "error of judgement," and then "recognised her mistake" and "took responsibility" for her actions.
He says the ministerial code allows for "a range of sanctions where mistakes have been made", and he adds that ministerial appointments "are a matter solely for the prime minister".
He says "given the apology issued by the home secretary", the prime minister decided to reappoint her to government and now wishes to work together with her on "making out streets safer and to control our borders".
What happened at PMQs?
Video content
Video caption: Watch in full: Rishi Sunak V Keir Starmer at PMQsWatch in full: Rishi Sunak V Keir Starmer at PMQs
Rishi Sunak has just finished his first PMQs. Here's a round-up of what happened:
Keir Starmer pressed Sunak on the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary just six days after she resigned over data breaches, saying he had made a "grubby deal" with her
Sunak said that Braverman had "made an error of judgment" and he was delighted to have her back in cabinet
Starmer also questioned Sunak's pledge to protect the most vulnerable in society
Sunak said the government would always protect the most vulnerable, as he said it did during the Covid pandemic
The Labour leader reiterated his call for a general election. Sunak responded by making reference to Starmer's past calls for a second Brexit referendum
Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party's leader at Westminster, asked the PM to guarantee that benefits would rise in line with inflation
Sunak said he had "always acted in a way to protect the most vulnerable". He added that he looks forward to working together "for the people of Scotland"
Sunak pledges to co-operate with Johnson inquiry
Labour's Ruth Jones, the Newport West MP, points out that Sunak, like Boris Johnson, was fined for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown.
"Law-breaking was the order of the day" during that administration, she adds.
She asks if Sunak will "fully co-operate" if called to give evidence by the Privileges Committee investigation into Johnson.
Sunak responds by saying he would like to pay tribute to Leadsom and other colleagues around the House for their roles in helping the family get justice.
He adds that his thoughts are with the family at this time.
Live Reporting
Edited by Heather Sharp and Sarah Fowler
All times stated are UK
Get involved
Fracking banned again - how did we get here?
Fracking is a process which involves extracting gas and oil from shale rocks.
It has only taken place on a very small scale so far in the UK - and it's very controversial.
It's seen by some proponents as one way for the UK to boost its domestic energy supply. But it's opposed by environmental groups, over concerns about earth tremors and the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change, as well as by opposition parties and the Scottish and Welsh governments.
Different Conservative administrations in Westminster have taken different stances over the past few years.
New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today aligned himself with the 2019 Tory manifesto - which pledged to maintain a ban on the practice in England.
Fracking had been halted earlier that year, after scientists said they weren't sure about the size of tremors the practice could cause.
Liz Truss lifted the moratorium during her brief time in office, saying she was in favour of fracking in places where there was local support. Sunak had taken the same line during the summer leadership contest between the two politicians.
But his latest statements today, and confirmation on the policy from Downing Street, mean fracking is again banned in England.
Reality Check
How many more doctors and nurses?
During Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak said there were “3,500 more doctors and over 9,000 more nurses working this year than last”.
He’s got his numbers about right. There were about 4,000 more community and hospital doctors, and 9,230 more nurses and health visitors working in the NHS in England in June 2022 (the latest figures available) compared with the previous June. That’s an increase of about 3% each.
However, NHS data suggests the number of vacant nursing posts may have increased slightly since last year.
That might mean there are more staff coming on board, but possibly not fast enough to keep up with growing demand.
Why is the fiscal statement delayed?
Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent
Why has the government delayed the fiscal statement due next week?
Of course there’s the fact there’s a new PM who will want to study the plans.
But it’s also because the economic picture isn’t quite as bad as was thought.
I’m told the current estimate received by the Treasury is that the black hole to be filled is around £35bn. That’s less than the roughly £40bn it was.
These figures can fluctuate based on borrowing costs and other things. So it isn’t an exact science.
But the chancellor thinks he’s working with a slightly better backdrop now. And he and the PM want to see if it gets better.
Sunak and family will live in No 10 Downing St
Chris Mason
Political editor
The Sunak family will live in the flat above No 10 Downing Street.
This is smaller than the flat above No 11, which has often been used by prime ministers, especially those with children.
But the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters Rishi Sunak, his wife and daughters were moving back into the No 10 flat they had been happy to occupy when the PM was chancellor.
Minister pressed on India-UK trade talks
More from the House of Commons now, where Labour have tabled an Urgent Question about the progress on negotiating a UK-India trade deal.
Labour's Nick Thomas Symonds says in January this year, negotiations on the deal began with the government promising to conclude these talks by Diwali this week.
He says promised progress on new trade deals has not materialised saying: "They're all talk and no delivery".
He also highlights what he described as "offensive" comments by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman on overstaying UK visas, when she said: "The largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants."
He asks Greg Hands to agree the home secretary has "completely undermined the UK government's negotiations" and asks whether she will withdraw those comments - and whether a future target date for the deal has been agreed.
Hands responds by saying the majority of the chapters on the deal - 16 chapters across 26 policy areas - have been agreed so far.
On Braverman's visa comments, he suggest the MP is "trying to have a second grab at the home secretary", and says she was referring to mode 4 arrangements, which relate to business visas not for permanent settlement. "That remains an area of active negotiation", he says.
Hands says Labour haven't supported a single trade deal to date.
BreakingSunak has reintroduced fracking ban - Downing Street
Rishi Sunak has reintroduced the moratorium on fracking in England, Downing Street has confirmed.
The prime minister's official spokesman confirmed the move after the new PM was pressed on the issue by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas at his first Prime Minister's Questions.
He told the Commons he "stands by" the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto and insisted his government would deliver on what was agreed at the UN Cop26 Glasgow climate talks.
Former PM Liz Truss had said she was lifting the ban, in areas where fracking was wanted, as she argued it would strengthen the country's energy supply.
No decisions made on defence spending - Downing Street
Downing Street is not committing to increasing defence spending by 3% of GDP by 2030 - which Liz Truss had pledged.
The prime minister's spokesperson said the issue would be set out at a “future fiscal event” referring to the chancellor’s autumn statement, now due on 17 November.
No decisions have been made on defence spending or significant spending as is custom ahead of a fiscal event, he said, adding that energy bill support will continue throughout the winter.
Sunak junks remnants of Truss policies
Chris Mason
Political editor
The last few weeks saw the near total junking of Liz Truss’s programme for government.
Today at Rishi Sunak’s first PMQs, it felt like the last remaining remnants of her ideas were lobbed in the skip.
So her flirtation with fracking in England is junked.
Sunak has reverted to the promise in the 2019 Conservative manifesto to maintain a ‘moratorium’ on it.
It was also strongly hinted that the government will raise those benefits that don’t automatically go up in line with inflation by the same rate as inflation.
Liz Truss was tempted to put them up in line with average earnings instead.
So what about pensions? Will they go up in line with spiralling prices too? The prime minister’s official spokesman was less categorical about that, but the importance of the manifesto was repeatedly referenced - and this was a manifesto promise too, to raise the state pension by whatever was higher: 2.5%, earnings, or prices.
On immigration, again Sunak’s team referred back to the manifesto - with its commitment to falling net migration.
"But the exact mix will be set out in due course," his spokesman said, adding that this would be set in order to reflect the "skills and talents" the economy required.
Double U-turn on fracking by Sunak at PMQs
Jonah Fisher
Environment correspondent
During the leadership campaign this summer, Rishi Sunak was asked directly “Fracking - yes or no, will you support it?”
His response mirrored that of his opponent Liz Truss: “Yes, if local communities support it.”
At PMQs today that position appears to have now shifted.
“I stand by the manifesto on this,” Sunak said when asked about the moratorium on fracking by Green MP Caroline Lucas.
That 2019 Conservative party manifesto stated that the ban would not be changed unless “the science shows categorically that it can be done safely".
That has not happened, so on the face of it this appears to be a double reversal.
Both the Truss adminstration’s lifting of the moratorium and Sunak’s expressed views at the election debate three months ago have changed. We've asked the government to clarify.
What is fracking? (In case you need a reminder)
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock.
It involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer in order to release the gas inside.
Much of India trade deal already agreed - minister
We're now hearing the second Urgent Question that followed PMQs in the House of Commons.
Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds asks for an update on the progress of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Greg Hands, the Minister for Trade Policy, calls India an "economic superpower" and says an FTA would improve access to its "dynamic market". He says the government is negotiating an ambitious FTA that "works for both countries" and that the "majority of chapters" of the agreement have already been reached, with more rounds expected shortly.
He added that the deal would drive growth, support jobs across the UK, and help British goods to reach India's growing middle class".
Reality Check
Will the government meet its police target?
During PMQs a little earlier, Sunak said to Starmer: “I would hope he would welcome the news today that there are over 15,000 new police officers on our streets.”
The Conservative Party manifesto in 2019 set a target to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales by March 2023.
That was an attempt to reverse the cuts in the period since 2010, when the number of officers had fallen by about 19,000.
Today, figures show that just over 15,300 of those officers have been recruited. This means that police forces still have to recruit almost 5,000 more officers to meet the Spring deadline.
Braverman breach much more serious than suggested - Hillier
Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier says that Jeremy Quin talks as if Braverman's breach of the ministerial code is similar to that of a junior member of staff who's made an inadvertent clerical error.
"This was the home secretary who released secret information through a personal email address," she says.
"It suggests a pattern of behaviour that she thinks it's OK to snap on her phone at four in the morning and make this atrocious mistake."
She says it's much more serious than the way the minister is trying to paint it. She asks him to recognise that this is on "a different scale".
Jeremy Quin denies he's trying to present it in any way other than the facts contained in Braverman's resignation letter, which "set out she had made a mistake and apologised".
Will Braverman be investigated by adviser?
Labour MP Angela Eagle asks whether Braverman will be investigated once an independent adviser on the ministerial code is appointed?
Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin says that what took place under the last administration - that of Liz Truss - "would not be properly part of the remit of the independent adviser" and so Braverman would not be subject to investigation by that person.
PM intends to appoint independent adviser - Quin
The SNP's Stuart C McDonald says he doesn't think the ministerial code is "worth the paper it's written on" and calls Braverman's appointment an "absolute disgrace".
He asks: "How can the PM ever talk again about integrity and passion in politics after blatantly making an appointment in his own interest, which is against everybody else's interests?"
Jeremy Quin responds saying it's the PM's intention to appoint an independent adviser, and reminds the MP that Braverman acknowledged her mistakes and stepped down.
Jenkin notes Blair reappointed a sacked minister
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin says that former Prime Minister Tony Blair removed a senior minister for breaching the ministerial code, before later reappointing that person to government.
He adds he believes the public will respect the fact "we have a system that holds ministers accountable" but that there is also an opportunity to learn from those mistakes.
Jeremy Quinn says he agrees, saying that if people have made a mistake, and accepted it, then there should be space for them to be reappointed.
Has there been investigation into Braverman data breach? - Cooper
Cooper points out that Braverman is responsible for national security as home secretary - and asks what level of security clearance Braverman has been given over sensitive information.
Cooper requests to know whether an investigation has been undertaken into the email data breach, and adds: "Is this the only time [Braverman] has done this?"
Jeremy Quin says that he cannot comment on speculation, saying: "At the end of the day, the home secretary made a mistake, acknowledged it, offered her resignation and stood down.
"The PM has decided she can return to government... and she is busy today, as she will be, doing the job of the home secretary and keeping our borders secure."
Labour's Yvette Cooper asks urgent question on Braverman reappointment
Events are moving along in the Commons and Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked an urgent question about the Home Secretary Suella Braverman's resignation and reappointment. She asks, where is the home secretary?
Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin says the home secretary made an "error of judgement," and then "recognised her mistake" and "took responsibility" for her actions.
He says the ministerial code allows for "a range of sanctions where mistakes have been made", and he adds that ministerial appointments "are a matter solely for the prime minister".
He says "given the apology issued by the home secretary", the prime minister decided to reappoint her to government and now wishes to work together with her on "making out streets safer and to control our borders".
What happened at PMQs?
Video content
Rishi Sunak has just finished his first PMQs. Here's a round-up of what happened:
Sunak pledges to co-operate with Johnson inquiry
Labour's Ruth Jones, the Newport West MP, points out that Sunak, like Boris Johnson, was fined for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown.
"Law-breaking was the order of the day" during that administration, she adds.
She asks if Sunak will "fully co-operate" if called to give evidence by the Privileges Committee investigation into Johnson.
"Of course," replies Sunak.
Sunak praises supporters of Harry Dunn's family
Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom asks the prime minister to join her in congratulating Harry Dunn's family in "finally" achieving justice for him, after US citizen Anne Sacoolas admitted causing his death in 2019.
Sunak responds by saying he would like to pay tribute to Leadsom and other colleagues around the House for their roles in helping the family get justice.
He adds that his thoughts are with the family at this time.