Labour Plans Permanent UK Fracking Ban Amid Reform Opposition

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced a permanent ban on fracking in the UK, reinforcing Labour's commitment to environmental protection and renewable energy. This ban, to be legislated as part of the North Sea transition plan, aims to prevent future fracking activities and would require parliamentary approval for any attempts to restart drilling, a move designed to counter Reform UK's plans to revive the practice. Miliband criticized fracking as dangerous, harmful to the environment, and ineffective at reducing energy bills or providing sustainable jobs, positioning Labour in direct opposition to Reform and its leaders, Nigel Farage and Richard Tice. Labour plans to mobilize activists in constituencies affected by shale gas reserves to build opposition to fracking, alongside ambitious goals to expand renewable energy and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The move has drawn praise from environmental groups but also criticism regarding potential oil extraction plans in the North Sea. Overall, Labour's strategy reflects a broader emphasis on clean energy job creation and community protection against environmentally risky practices like fracking.