… while Osborne offers a tax bribe to frackers

Last week the Treasury set a 30% tax rate for onshore shale gas production – less than half the 62% on new North Sea oil operations. Meanwhile, a survey has shown that almost 80% of people polled believe Britain should reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Cuadrilla, the company that will benefit from the cheap tax rate, says the benefit will not result in cheaper gas for its customers.

Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, sensibly pointed out that George Osborne’s ‘dash for gas’ threatens to lock Britain into a high-cost energy future, whereas the ‘fuel’ for wind farms and solar panels costs precisely nothing.