Miliband vows to ban fracking, labels Reform ‘ideological extremists’ and tells Musk to ‘get the hell out of our politics’ – live

<p>Environmental groups have welcomed the energy secretary’s fracking announcement</p><p>At the Labour conference Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has just started his speech.</p><p>Responding to the news that he will announce a total ban on fracking (see <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/01/keir-starmer-labour-conference-nigel-farage-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-68dce39b8f0896412d7c1481#block-68dce39b8f0896412d7c1481">9.19am</a>), Asad Rehman, chief executive of <strong>Friends of the Earth</strong>, said:<strong><br></strong></p><p>By providing a clear vision for our energy future based on helping people, not on ignoring the science, the energy secretary has sent an important message that the government is listening to communities.</p><p>Fracking is and always has been unpopular, both with people facing it off locally and the wider public. The government must now translate its plans to ban fracking permanently into policy, alongside closing a loophole in planning law that still allows it to happen by the backdoor.</p><p>Andy Burnham is doing a fantastic job as the mayor of Manchester. I actually worked closely with him. We’ve reset that relationship between Westminster and our mayors, and we’re working well together. So I’ve got no personal issue with Andy in the slightest.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/01/keir-starmer-labour-conference-nigel-farage-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>