Shapps plays down ‘row’ talk but hints at U-turn over English onshore wind farm ban as Tory back-bench rebellion grows
A Cabinet minister has hinted that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could back down amid a growing Tory rebellion trying to force him to drop a ban on new onshore wind farms.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps denied the challenge constitutes a" row" or that there is a "massive gulf "between the rebels' position and that of the government.
Former prime ministers boris Johnson and Liz Truss are among some 30 Conservatives backing former levelling-up secretary Simon Clarke's prowind amendment to the Levelling Up Bill.
Playing down the significance of the revolt, Mr Shapps said he is "completely mystified" by headlines about it.
He told Times Radio: "It's the most extraordinarily overwritten story I've read.
"The fact that a backbencher has an amendment in is literally something that happens every single day in Parliament.
"And his amendment, which is saying something like local people should have final say, is actually exactly what Rishi said when he last spoke on it, and indeed what I've said on it in the past."
He added :" it just strikes me it' s not really a row.
"We're all basically saying the same thing. You need local consentif you' re going to have wind power onshore, because it can be quite a big imposition on the local environment."
The amendment to the Levelling Up Bill would allow wind farms in rural areas where there is community consent.
Although mrs happs suggested this is also the Prime Minister' s policy, Mr Sun a kin fact vowed to maintain the moratoriumon new on shore wind during his unsuccessful Tory leadership bid in the summer.
In July, Mr Sunak's campaign said: "In recognition of the distress and disruption that onshore wind farms can often cause, Rishi has also promised to scrap plans to relax the ban on onshore wind farms in England."
Acknowledging such concerns, Mr Shapps said onshore wind turbines can be an eyesore if "not done properly", and should be removed from "people's eyelines".
Asked if Mr Sunak will support Mr Clarke's amendment, he toldbbcradio4' s today programme:" we' ve been very clear that, regardless, local communities need to both support and ideally see the benefits from this."