ANTI-FRACKING protestors are "blinkered totalitarians" who want "us all to live in their yurts, tepees and wigwams" according to Margaret Thatcher's former spin doctor Bernard Ingham.
Bernad Ingham has severly criticised the anti-fracking lobbyThe problem with anti-fracking fanatics is that, like other zealots, they are blinkered totalitarians.Bernard Ingham
The 81-year-old has also claimed modern environmentalists are showing "hypocrisy, utter stupidity and exaggeration" over fracking, arguing it has far less impact on the countryside than wind farms.
The former Downing Street Press Secretary made the comments just days after the Green MP Caroline Lucas was among protesters arrested at a site in Balcombe, West Sussex where energy firm Cuadrilla is drilling for oil.
Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Mr Ingham said: "The problem with anti-fracking fanatics is that, like other zealots, they are blinkered totalitarians.
He added: "Fracking for shale gas is merely the latest example of their hypocrisy, utter stupidity and exaggeration."
Mr Ingham, who served as press secretary to Mrs Thatcher for 11 years, argued so-called green energy such as wind and solar power had failed to reduce C02 emissions, and are hampering the British economy.
The former Downing Street Press Secretary made the comments just days after the Green MP Caroline Lucas was among protesters arrested at a site in Balcombe, West Sussex where energy firm Cuadrilla is drilling for oil.
Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Mr Ingham said: "The problem with anti-fracking fanatics is that, like other zealots, they are blinkered totalitarians.
He added: "Fracking for shale gas is merely the latest example of their hypocrisy, utter stupidity and exaggeration."
Mr Ingham, who served as press secretary to Mrs Thatcher for 11 years, argued so-called green energy such as wind and solar power had failed to reduce C02 emissions, and are hampering the British economy.
Green MP Caroline Lucas was arrested during the anti-fracking protests"So much for the average environmentalist’s tender loving concern for the poor, for the unemployed, for the ability of the nation to compete in the world and for a healthy economy capable of looking after the health and welfare of its citizens," he said
"It seems they want us all to live in their yurts, tepees and wigwams in a sort of glorious, save-the-planet pre-industrial squalour – regardless of our manifest objections. If that is not totalitarianism, I don’t know what is.
"As for stupidity, their entire approach to energy is to plump for everything that does not work and exclude everything that does – coal, gas, oil and especially nuclear power which emits next to no CO2.
"Worse still, their long campaign has captured our limited politicians. The result is that, short of an early shale gas bonanza, we can no longer rely on any government of whatever political complexion to provide secure supplies of energy at affordable cost."
Green Party London Assembly Member Jenny Jones said: “As well as being offensive to local communities concerned about fracking, Mr Ingham’s ill-judged comments show he hasn’t done his homework.
“The debate isn’t one between proponents of progress on one side and ‘green zealots’ on the other. It’s not totalitarianism to want the Government to invest in clean, renewable energy technologies. You don’t have to live in a yurt to want to avert dangerous climate change.
“As for exaggerating the risks of fracking, the International Energy Agency – not known for hype – has warned of a range of impacts on local communities, including the potential contamination of groundwater.
“And the effect on fuel bills would be minimal at best. Ofgem and Deutsche Bank both say that the widespread use of UK shale gas is unlikely to bring down prices”
“And the effect on fuel bills would be minimal at best. Ofgem and Deutsche Bank both say that the widespread use of UK shale gas is unlikely to bring down prices”
No Dash For Gas, which organised the Balcombe camp, said they would return to Balcombe in the future, calling the campaign a "marathon" not a "sprint".
Protesters believe the drilling could lead to fracking, which they claim imposes environmental risks including water contamination and small earthquakes.
Protesters believe the drilling could lead to fracking, which they claim imposes environmental risks including water contamination and small earthquakes.
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