TAUNTON Deane MP Rebecca Pow has explained why she voted against a Labour motion on fracking in the House of Commons yesterday evening.

Labour used an opposition day debate to put forward a motion which, if passed, would have secured time for the Commons to consider legislation to ban fracking.

This followed Prime Minister Liz Truss - who announced her resignation this afternoon - lifting a moratorium on fracking in September.

When the moratorium (temporary ban) was lifted, the government said fracking will only take place where there is local consent.

Ms Pow, a former Environment Minister, said yesterday's vote “was not about fracking” but was instead a ploy by Labour to control the Commons' Order of Business.

In a statement for the County Gazette, she reiterated her opposition to fracking “unless there is unequivocal scientific evidence to prove it is safe”.

Labour's motion was defeated by 326 votes to 230, despite 36 Conservative MPs not taking part in the vote.

Tory whips initially stated the vote was being treated as a “confidence motion” in Liz Truss’s embattled government.

Minutes before the vote, Climate Minister Stuart Graham told the Commons this was “quite clearly” not the case. 

Number 10 later said that Mr Stuart had been “mistakenly” told this by Downing Street and Conservative MPs were “fully aware” it was subject to a three-line whip.

The vote is now under investigation after allegations of misconduct in the voting lobbies. 

At the start of October, Ms Pow wrote a column in the Daily Express that said “communities must be able to say no” to fracking.

Today, Ms Pow said: “To be clear, yesterday’s vote in Parliament was not about fracking, although it may have seemed like it to those not entirely familiar with parliamentary procedure.

“What it was actually about was the opposition taking control of the order paper.

“It was a political stunt by the Labour Party to claim that any Tory MP who voted against the motion somehow backed fracking.

“This is simply not the case. I have always stressed that fracking should never be allowed unless there is unequivocal scientific evidence to prove it is safe seismically but also in terms of any effects on our water system. 

“In fact, I did make this point in the chamber yesterday. I’ve also written widely on my views on this.

“I had also signed a letter to the Secretary of State for BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) to this effect which included the view that if all of the hurdles have been crossed regarding safety issues it would still require local people to agree they wanted fracking before going ahead. I attended a recent meeting with the Secretary of State to make this point.

“This being said, yesterday’s vote was only procedural which is why I voted against it.

“I’ve always endeavoured to conduct myself with honour and integrity in my role as MP for Taunton Deane – a role I have been proud to undertake.

“Since being elected in 2015, I’ve delivered much for my constituency and I will continue to do all I can to give my constituents sustainability and certainty at a time when I know so many of them are facing many challenges.”

Other Somerset Conservative MPs including Ian Liddell-Grainger, James Heappey and Marcus Fysh voted against the Labour motion.