Tessa Munt

Tessa Munt

Tessa Munt was the UK Liberal Democrats member of Parliament (MP) for Wells from 2010 to 2015. Munt won the seat from Conservative MP David Heathcoat-Amory with a majority of 800 votes but lost in 2015 to the Conservative's James Heappey by 7,585 votes.

Munt was parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the former UK business secretary Vince Cable in the 2010 to 2015 Coalition government.

Resignation as Vince Cable aide over fracking

Munt resigned in January 2015 after she voted for a Commons amendment calling for a moratorium on fracking in the UK, which was not supported by the government. In a letter she explained why:

Today I handed in my resignation after 3 enjoyable years working closely alongside Vince Cable as his PPS in the Business Department.

I understood the implications of voting against the Government, but with my principles, in favour of a moratorium or ‘freeze’ on fracking, as endorsed by the Environmental Audit Committee’s Report published on Monday morning.

Even though the Infrastructure Bill passed with the insistence of both the large parties last night.

I have restated my opposition to fracking today. I am unwilling to compromise and cannot change my opposition to fracking. I will continue to campaign vocally against fracking and as result it is clear that my views cannot be reconciled with the Government on this matter. This evening I tendered my resignation as PPS to Vince.

I will continue to defend and represent this beautiful part of Somerset, its residents, businesses with all the enthusiasm and energy that I have had since May 2010 when I became the Member.

My campaign to stop fracking in Somerset continues.

Affiliations

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

• Vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas, set up 2013. Munt remained in this position as at 30 January 2015
• Member of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament