Wrangle over fracking

INEOS and Aberdeen firm Reach-CSG are in court challenging the Scottish Government’s decision to convert a moratorium on fracking into an indefinite ban.

Advocate James Mure, QC, acting for the Scottish Government, shocked everyone when he said there was no formal ban in place and ‘the concept of an effective ban is a gloss’. In what could be a scene out of Yes Minister, the previous assurances of Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney, Humza Yousaf and other SNP worthies have proved to be full of spin with no substance just like so many of their promises.

I expect that the Government spin doctors are already working on a plan to get it out of the hole it has dug for itself. No wonder the SNP needs 44 spin doctors. CLARK CROSS, Linlithgow,

West Lothian.

A JUDGE has been told (Mail) that the SNP fracking ban is not a ban at all, just ‘a gloss’. If this is correct, then Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney, and Humza Yousaf – who all told the public there was a ban – are wrong. So too are Nationalist MPs tommy Sheppard and Pete Wishart who hailed the ‘ban’.

I’m looking forward to the First Minister making crystal clear why either the court or the public and Holyrood have been so misled.

S. LUCAS, Glasgow.

INEOS launched legal action against the Scottish Government’s ban on fracking. Curiously, the Scottish Government has just denied in court that any such ban even exists.

Footage of First Minister’s Questions from October 5 shows Nicola Sturgeon emphatically stating: ‘Fracking is being banned in Scotland... there will be no fracking in Scotland... Fracking in Scotland is banned.’ Would the real Nicola Sturgeon please stand up?

A. MORRISON, Dyce, Aberdeen.