General election candidates - Katie (28th Jan 2015 - 21:07:19)
I'm relatively new to Liphook...
Does anyone have any idea who will be running against Damian Hinds for East Hampshire?
Particularly interested in candidates who will fight to stop fracking happening beneath our homes given that insurers are now adding clauses into home insurance policies that mean they don't have to pay out on damage caused by fracking.
Thanks for any info.
Re: General election candidates - James (29th Jan 2015 - 09:13:12)
The UK Communist party is anti-fracking, just look for the hammer and sickle on the ballot box.
Re: General election candidates - bdavies (29th Jan 2015 - 10:20:13)
Damian Hinds voted in favour (i.e. against the moratorium on fracking) and he supports the amendments to the infrastructure bill that will make it easier for the industry to carry it out. When asked to tell us what this meant for his constituency, i.e. what areas of the associated PEDL are likely to be fracked first and when, he didn't have a clue. So effectively he voted for something without knowing what the impact to his constituents would be and where. Quite scary.
Now whether you agree or disagree with fracking, the point is that under current voted for legislation, it can happen anywhere in the licenced areas and under your home if planning permission is granted. Associated companies can also leave all manner of toxic waste there too. National parks and SSSIs are excluded thanks to Labour and the Greens.
The Greens are against fracking by the way and they have a candidate in East Hampshire. Labour abstained completely in the vote (why?) but they are more concerned about the safety aspects. From what I understand the whole infrastructure bill vote was railroaded through without any amendments being properly debated.
The next test case is Cuadrilla in Lancashire. The local council has been asked to defer a decision on Cuadrilla's application for 8 more weeks. Meanwhile, George Osborne had written to MPs and the local council recently ordering them to do all they can to fast track the Lancashire application and give Cuadrilla all they want/need to get this agreed. The letter was leaked and caused an outcry of lapdog compliance with the drilling companies.
Osborne's father in law and many politicians and government organisations have financial and pension investment interests tied up with the industry.
Regardless of the environmental repercussions and whether you agree with fracking or not, there is also the case of the redacted DEFRA report on the impact to the environment and to communities and property values should fracking go ahead in any area. That in itself is a scandal but the jist is property prices will fall if we have a well or wells close to us.
The debate about excluding areas that aquifers beneath them still rages.
Remember all this when you are choosing between UKIP and Tory; both are completely pro-fracking.
Re: General election candidates - Katie (29th Jan 2015 - 21:56:35)
Thanks for all the interesting info BD.
I wouldn't vote Tory or UKIP for all the tea in Kenya.
Let's hope I'm not the only one thinking Green!
Re: General election candidates - Keith (30th Jan 2015 - 08:35:48)
The Labour candidate for East Hampshire is Alex Wilks
