Natascha Engel

From Powerbase
Revision as of 06:08, 7 January 2018 by Melissa Jones (talk | contribs) (udpate ineos commission)
Jump to: navigation, search
Natascha Engel

Natascha Engel was the Labour Party MP for North East Derbyshire from 2005[1] until she lost her seat in the 2017 general election to the Conservative candidate Lee Rowley. Engel had previously narrowly beaten him in the 2015 general election with a majority of just 1,883. [2] It was the first Labour loss for the seat in over 35 years.

Since leaving politics the former MP has taken on consultancy work with INEOS Shale

Stance on fracking

FrackWell.png This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

‬Engel is pro-fracking. Her former North East Derbyshire constituency includes six oil and gas licence blocks, all awarded to INEOS by the Oil and Gas Authority under the 14th licensing round in 2015. There are plans for four shale wells, one hrz frac well and 2D and 3D seismic surveying; no applications are currently underway. [3]

In December 2017 Engel was commissioned by petrochemical giant INEOS to write an 'information 'booklet' that would 'better explain shale exploration and development'. INEOS Shale operations director Tom Pickering explained that her assistance would 'give us a better insight into the needs and concerns of residents. As a former Labour MP and trade unionist, Natascha has always made the case for good jobs, as well as health and safety. At the same time, Natascha is well placed to give us a full understanding of local issues and help us to continue to be an open and inclusive organisation.'

Engel added

I saw first-hand what the impacts are on small communities when they hear about a shale gas application near them – even when it’s only for exploratory drilling. What people want is information. They want to know how it will affect them and they want reassurance that it is safe. I hope that this booklet will provide some of those certainties.
Most of all I hope that this will allow INEOS to work constructively with communities so that local people gain the most in terms of the jobs and apprenticeships that this industry could bring – something I have campaigned on for most of my adult life.


Voting record

Engel has an inconsistent voting record on fracking. [4]

  • 26 January 2015: voted for making fracking companies apply for an environmental permit before conducting exploratory drilling. She was absent however for a vote to amend the Infrastructure Bill to include a moratorium on fracking.
  • 11 February 2015: voted against requiring more pre-conditions for where fracking can take place.
  • 16 December 2015: absent for a vote on loosening the conditions for when fracking to take place in protected areas and national parks.

Staff

Affiliations

Notes

  1. Natascha Engel, www.parliament.uk, accessed 29 October 2013.
  2. Derbyshire North East Parliamentary constituency BBC News, accessed 21 May 2015
  3. Oil and gas: licensing rounds, GOV.uk, accessed 14 November 2016.
  4. TheyWorkForYou | Natascha Engel, TheyWorkForYou, accessed 10 November 2016.
  5. Register of interests of members' secretaries and research assistants, 23 March 2016, parliament.uk, accessed 20 April 2016