Conservative moratorium on fracking is just an election ploy | Letters
Should we temper exultation with realism (Fracking banned in UK after government U-turn, 2 November)? Remember that politicians, even Conservative prime ministers, have a record of telling high-profile lies, especially in the run-up to an election. Remember David Cameron's emphatic assurance that there would be no new Heathrow runway, "no ifs, no buts", repeated several times before the 2010 general election? Boris Johnson, whose promises have frequently been shown to be false, knows fracking is unpopular in a number of Midlands and northern constituencies, including Conservative targets. He might well assure us that fracking will be banned, but in the longer term cite "changed circumstances" to reverse the pledge.
David Packham
Bath
" The government has suddenly halted fracking until "compelling new evidence is provided" that proves it is safe. I would wager that Andrea Leadsom will unveil said evidence the week after the marginal Midlands and northern constituencies, who are strongly against fracking, have voted in her colleagues. The government hasn't "banned" anything. It has temporarily halted an unnecessary and unpopular practice to gain some votes.
Simon Richards
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire