A Cumbrian MP has called for ministers to pull the plug on plans for a new deep coal mine in Cumbria after “the failure of COP26”.
On the floor of the House of Commons today, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron urged ministers to call a halt on plans for the new mine near Whitehaven.
It comes after a dramatic last-minute intervention from India and China to weaken a global agreement to phase out coal on the final day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Speaking during Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions in Parliament this morning, Mr Farron said: “The Government is still sitting on the fence about the new coal mine in West Cumbria.
“Given the incredibly disappointing outcome when it came to coal at COP26, isn’t this a moment for the UK Government to take a lead and say that the coal mine will not now open?”
Responding, the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Firstly, he will understand that the coal mine is an independent planning decision.
“Secondly, I completely deny his assertion that somehow COP26 was a failure. It wasn’t. It was a great success thanks to my right honourable friend and huge commitments were made, which everyone is supporting.”
Speaking afterwards, Tim said: “Once again the Government are embarrassingly dodging this issue, claiming that it’s not their decision.
“In reality, it will be Michael Gove – a Conservative minister – who has the final say on the Cumbrian coal mine.
“So if the Government really did believe that we should, in the words of the Prime Minister, ‘consign coal to history’, then they could pull the plug on this mine today.”
