Minister admits there are ‘very compelling reasons’ to halt plan for Cumbria coal mine

THERE ARE “very compelling reasons” not to open a new mine in Cumbria, the Business Secretary has said after the project was called in for review by the Government.

Ministers had originally declined to intervene in the goahead for the deep mine near Whitehaven, which would provide coking coal for steel production, claiming it was a “local” decision in the hands of Cumbria County Council.

But Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced last week that a public inquiry would take place into the scheme, which environmental campaigners have warned undermines UK efforts to tackle climate change.

The move came after the Government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said the opening of the mine would increase UK and global emissions, and “gives a negative impression of the UK’s climate priorities” in the year it hosts key international Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow.

In the strongest hint yet that the Government is looking to prevent the project going ahead, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said yesterday that there were very compelling reasons to do as the committee suggested and not open the mine.

In response, Labour and green groups urged him to stop the mine, and secure a sustainable future for the steel industry.

Asked why he was not stepping in to stop the development, Mr Kwarteng told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “Essentially what we’ve done is pretty much that.

“We’re looking at it, it is part of a planning process.

“Initially, I think the relevant secretary of state (Mr Jenrick) said he wouldn’t go against the local planning decision, but he is now looking at that again and I think there were very compelling reasons to do as the CCC (Climate Change Committee) suggested and not open the mine.”

Pressed on whether he was saying it should not open, the Conservative Cabinet minister added: “What I said was that we’re going through a process, it is a legal process, a local planning process, and the Secretary of State for Local Government is reviewing that situation.”

Mr Kwarteng has previously admitted there was a “slight tension” between Government climate policy and the approval of a new coal mine.