‘Bullying like nothing I’ve ever seen’: Fleetwood MP describes the chaotic scenes as motion to force vote on fracking bill is defeated

The Fleetwood MP says she saw Conservative members being bullied into voting with the government as a motion to force a vote on the fracking bill was defeated in the Commons.

Cat Smith spoke in the parliamentary debate against fracking in the House of Commons, before the vote on a Labour motion that would have then forced a vote on a bill to ban fracking, after the government announced a u-turn on the banning of the process to extract shale gas.

But MPs rejected Labour’s motion to allocate Commons time to consider banning fracking, with Tory MPs issued with a ‘three-line whip’ on Labour’s motion, meaning that Tory MPs who voted against the government could lose the whip, and subsequently would no longer be able to sit as Conservative MPs.

Cat said: ‘’During that vote I saw things I’ve never seen, like [a Conservative minister], physically pick up an upset Tory MP and put him in the division lobby. Unbelievable scenes and bullying that was like nothing I’ve seen in my seven years as an MP.

‘’It’s not how we do things. All through Brexit and the many votes, I didn’t see this behaviour. It’s appalling.

‘’To turn the situation into a confidence vote (in the government) is really underhand. The Conservative MPs were put in a dreadful situation where they had to either vote with the government or vote against fracking.

‘’I don’t doubt that many of them don’t want fracking, but last night, many didn’t vote with their conscience.’’

Local Conservative MPs, Fylde’s Mark Menzies, Blackpool South’s Scott Benton, and Blackpool North and Cleveleys’ Paul Maynard, all voted with their party.

Wyre MP, Ben Wallace, didn’t record a vote.

Fylde MP, Mark Menzies, said: ‘’ I voted tonight not in favour of fracking but to ensure local people had the final say on whether it ever happens again in Fylde.

‘’I was clear in my view the moratorium should not have been lifted, I remain firm in my opinion fracking should never happen again in our community.

‘’Having pushed the Government to give local people a voice, I want that voice heard loud and clear. I believe people in Fylde share my conviction that fracking should never again take place in our local communities.

‘’This is our chance to say no, not now, not ever.’’

Blackpool South MP, Scott Benton, added: ‘’I’m 100% opposed to fracking and always will be. I’m not playing Labour’s games in Parliament.

‘’The debate today was nothing about fracking and was all about Labour trying to take control of the business in Parliament. It’s the government of the day who decides business, not the opposition.

‘’A free and fair vote on fracking has been promised by the government - when this comes forward I will ensure that the views of the majority of local people who are opposed to fracking are represented at that time by voting against fracking.’’

The aftermath of the vote saw the suggestion that the government's chief whip Wendy Morton had resigned, along with her deputy, Craig Whittaker.

But Number 10 later stated that both remained in their posts.

Speaking to Sky News, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the business secretary, played down allegations made by Labour MP Chris Bryant that some Conservative MPs shouted at and "manhandled" others in the voting lobbies to get them to vote with the government.

He said he did not see any bullying or physical contact "beyond a female affectionately patting someone on the back" - though "one member used an expletive".

Mr Bryant said he took a photo of the moment, which features Lancaster MP Cat Smith, and that he will be handing to the chief whip as evidence.