AN SNP campaign group has hit out at their party leadership after a grassroots bid to push for a fracking ban in Scotland was blocked. More than a dozen SNP branches had backed a motion ahead of the party’s Spring conference that would have asked delegates to support a ban on unconventional oil and gas extraction. However, a powerful party committee blocked the motion from being discussed despite the significant support from members. SNP Members Against Unconventional Oil and Gas, known as SMAUG, issued a statement in which it said it was “deeply disappointed” with the decision not to approve a debate. Had the motion been selected and backed by members, the party leadership would have come under intense pressure to go further than its current position of putting moratoriums in place on fracking and underground coal gasification.
Herald 25th Jan 2016 read more »