Over 90 people attended a hustings organised by Frack-Free Greater Manchester to test the parties’ attitudes to fracking. TUSC was invited, alongside Tories, Labour, Lib Dems, Greens and Left Unity. Ukip was invited but didn’t reply – if it’s not about Europe or immigration, it’s not on their radar!
The Tory was honest and said he was totally in favour, the Lib Dem was a ‘fracking sceptic’ and didn’t agree with his party policy, the Labour candidate wanted ‘a mature debate’ at some stage but unfortunately by then 60% of the country will have been fracked.
Matt Kilsby, TUSC candidate in Salford’s Claremont ward and a Unison activist, ably put forward the case for a socialist energy plan. Here he is, rolling up his sleeves to deal with Labour fence-sitting: