This is an excellent article which sums up the issues of the SNP’s decision to abstain on the fracking vote brilliantly.
The issue of fracking is one which grapples the entire UK. If the SNP wanted a moratorium, and then proceeded to say they are against fracking, why didn’t they vote for a ban? They said it was because they didn’t want to risk the ban being overturned in court; but this wasn’t implementing a ban, just giving the parliament’s stance on the issue.
Even as someone who is a friend of the SNP, I find their actions on fracking lacklustre and populist, without true desire to see fossil fuel usage in Scotland end. For that, and this abstention, they should be ashamed.
I also note that when other parties abstain on critical issues, the SNP score cheap points against them. Yet, now the SNP has become just as bad. Is this acceptable? Is the SNP going to laugh it off? Probably not.
I really hope the Scottish Parliament gets to implement a ban on fracking- with SNP support.
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