The Labour Party has confirmed that they will ban fracking across the UK, should they win in next month’s General Election.

Jed Sullivan, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Fylde, met with Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell last week, to seek assurances for residents across the Fylde Coast, upon Labour’s stance for the highly controversial fossil fuel extraction technique. Fylde has seen considerable opposition from residents to a Westminster decision to permit fracking in the area.

During a filmed clip of the meeting with John McDonnell and Jed Sullivan, McDonnell reaffirmed:

“We are opposed to fracking and will be banning fracking.”

The media footage of the meeting has since been shared thousands of times across social media. Mr Sullivan stated:

“Fylde’s residents are, quite rightly, very concerned about the prospect of fracking on their doorstep. Labour is the only party which will have the ability to ban fracking: a vote of Labour is a vote to stop fracking.”

Hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction – known as ‘fracking’ – is the process of drilling into the earth before injecting water at high pressure to release gas from rocks. Cuadrilla were granted permission to undertake exploratory drilling at two sites on the Fylde Coast, by the government, who overruled Lancashire County Council in their rejection of Cuadrilla’s plans. Cuadrilla is currently undertaking exploratory drilling at Preston New Road, in the Fylde.

Mr Sullivan is standing for Labour in the Fylde, for the second time, having stood against the incumbent MP, Conservative Mark Menzies, during the 2015 General Election. Labour have since seen a four-fold increase in membership across the Fylde.

Mr Sullivan – a father-of-two from Wharles, near to the ear-marked fracking site at Roseacre – is a local resident and businessman, running a community-interests company which creates training and employment opportunities for young NEET people. He is campaigning on fracking, as well as funding and support for the NHS, policing and education, the triple-lock on pensions and the £10 Living Wage.