On Wednesday, the Government ordered Conservative MPs to vote against the Labour Party’s ‘Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill’.
Labour hoped to use the vote in Parliament to force the introduction of a draft law to ban fracking. Even though the Government declared it a ‘confidence vote’, prior to the vote at least three Conservative MPs said they would defy the Government.
‘No vote recorded’
No Conservative MPs voted in favour of the motion, but 39 had ‘no vote recorded’. This included Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely.
‘No vote recorded’ doesn’t necessarily mean the MP has abstained. There could be a procedural reason for not voting. Or it could be that members were absent carrying out constituency or ministerial business, or be unable to attend for other reasons.
News OnTheWight has written to Bob to ask whether he abstained or wasn’t present for other reasons.
Seely’s objection to oil exploration
In his formal objection in July 2021 to UKOG’s planning application for oil exploration wells in Arreton, Bob said,
“I recognise that the oil and gas industry is important to the UK, however, it is entirely inappropriate for the Isle of Wight.”
Watch the debate
You can watch the debate via the iPaper YouTube channel.
Image: Anti-fracking protest by progressohio under CC BY 2.0
