Fracking risks turning country against Tories, says Zac Goldsmith

Conservative MP says drilling and pollution are 'alarming prospect' for communities

Zac Goldsmith has warned ministers that their plans to fast-track fracking risk turning whole regions of the country against the Conservatives and igniting a political backlash.

The Tory MP for Richmond said people had legitimate concerns about fracking and that government proposals to bypass local planning decisions on shale gas wells were a mistake.