Kerrunder fireover fracking

Conservative candidate for Stirling Stephen Kerr was this week accused of misjudging the public mood on fracking.

His SNP opponent Alyn Smith made the comments after the Westminster Government announced at the weekend its decision to suspend the controversial technique in England.

It followed a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), stating that it was not possible to predict the probability or the size of tremors involved.

Last month, when the Scottish Government announced that it is to refuse to grant licences for fracking, Mr Kerr said there was“little chance for a rational debate on the issue given the scaremongering nonsense spouted by the Green Party and the SNP.”

Fracking decisions, he added, should be“based on scientific evidence and the views of communities in that area.”

But Mr Smith said this week:“This was a serious misjudgement on the part of local Tory politicians. Communities across the Stirling area are concerned about how fracking would impact them.

“Mr Kerr should do the decent thing in light of the U-turn of the UK Government and explain why fracking is acceptable for communities in Stirling but should be banned in other parts of the UK.”

A Stirling Conservative spokesperson said this week: “Nicola Sturgeon’s appointed candidate displays his failure to grasp basic facts yet again. Stephen has always said that every case for hydraulic fracturing should be determined on its own merits and the views of the community.“