Long-term fracking protesters force Tory fracking tsar to resign

Natascha Engel, the government’s fracking tsar, has quit after just six months in the post. And her resignation letter suggested that pressure from long-term fracking protesters forced her resignation. But there may also be more at play.

“An impossible task”

As the Guardian reported, Engel’s letter claimed she faced “an impossible task”. She also insisted that environmental activists:

had been “highly successful” in encouraging the government to curb fracking.

She continued:

We are listening to a small but loud environmental movement that opposes in principle all extraction of fossil fuels. The campaign against fracking has been highly successful in raising the profile and filling the coffers of some NGOs, but they do not represent local residents nor the wider population.

As The Canary has reported for some time, there are major concerns about the controversial process and links to earthquakes. Under current government rules, fracking must stop each time it triggers an earth tremor of magnitude 0.5 or above. Engel was critical of this, saying it “amounts to a de facto ban”.

Celebration

For several years, campaigners have worked tirelessly to oppose fracking. Preston New Road has become ground zero in the battle. From a judge jailing activists (whom another judge promptly freed) to a court case, protests and political interventions, via alleged police and security aggression – it’s the front line of the war against this dirty industry. So campaign groups welcomed the announcement:

Well said Maureen – Natascha Engel nothing more than an industry mouthpiece, spouting lies and pro-fracking myths, what a disgraceful public appointment @beisgovuk https://t.co/c6MmL3iDoa

— Frack Free Lancs (@frackfreelancs) April 28, 2019

The Shale Gas Commissioner singularly fails to win over hearts and minds and resigns blaming the Government for not reviewing the Traffic Light System. https://t.co/PXh24TNGtP

— Preston New Road (@NoFrackLancs) April 28, 2019

Campaigning works! Well done to huge numbers of people who have supported the anti-#fracking cause. Getting it going an "impossible task", says Natascha Engel. @FrackFreeMisson @woodsettsaf @FrackFreeNotts @frackfreesyorks https://t.co/rMuWGg9z2t

— Natalie Bennett (@natalieben) April 28, 2019

“Principled?”

And although Engel ‘blamed’ protesters, it also seems that the timing of her resignation may be more than a little coincidental. Prior to her appointment, Engel worked for INEOS, one of the UK’s key fracking companies. Following a Freedom of Information request from Unearthed, she:

admitted to routinely deleting correspondence and throwing away notes from meetings with fracking companies in a move that may have violated transparency requirements.

Many people noted the link between this information coming to light and her resignation:

Natascha Engel, who just resigned as the government’s shale gas tsar, previously did paid work for fracking firm @INEOS_Shale

She told @UE she deletes emails and meeting notes are thrown away 🗑

Read the latest report by me @zdboren here; https://t.co/FmMiGVSj5i pic.twitter.com/q3tLGn1WLy

— Russell Scott (@RussellScott1) April 29, 2019

This puts Natascha Engel's "principled" resignation as fracking tsar in a whole new light. On the eve of exposure for what looks to me like misconduct in public office, she writes a resignation letter claiming that eco-activists have made her job impossible. https://t.co/7u2et4cXdt

— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) April 28, 2019

Engel’s resignation may not mean the end of fracking in the UK. But it’s certainly a victory for all those who’ve campaigned for so long.

Featured image via Flickr – Matt Brown