| Notes |
"Westminster insider who played a key role in Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign is now advising the shale fracking company Cuadrilla, Byline Times can reveal.
Cuadrilla is the only company to frack for shale gas in Britain but has faced fierce opposition from environmental groups and local residents, especially after its explorations caused Earth tremors that were larger than expected. A 2.9 magnitude tremor was felt in August 2019 while Cuadrilla fracked its Preston New Road site near Blackpool, prompting a moratorium on fracking in November that year.
Ed Barker, who claims to have been “at the heart of… Boris Johnson’s journey to becoming Prime Minister and the 2019 General Election” has managed the public relations for a wide range of Conservative Party organisations, including the Thatcherite campaign group, Conservative Way Forward (CWF).
The CWF was rebooted this summer by Conservative MP Steve Baker and has the financial backing of individuals linked to the influential climate science-sceptic think tank, the Global Warming Policy Foundation.
The CWF has been campaigning against measures to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including calling for the suspension of green levies on energy bills. Baker was appointed as Northern Ireland Minister by Liz Truss in September – a position he retained when Rishi Sunak took over 10 Downing Street a month later."
https://bylinetimes.com/2022/11/15/boris-johnson-ex-pr-guru-lands-role-at-fracking-giant/ |