Boom in renewables weakens fracking's case in UK, says Tory MP

Chair of policy committee also points to action to extract more North Sea gas and oil, suggesting support for shale gas is cooling

The case for fracking in Britain has weakened because of government action to extract more oil and gas from the North Sea and meteoric growth in renewable power, according to a Conservative MP tasked with developing the party's energy policy.

James Heappey said the new rules on tax relief for offshore oil and gas fields announced in last week's budget could change the energy landscape.