Rees-Mogg’s neighbours fail to share ‘delight’ at back garden fracking
The sun was shining and the wind blowing steadily across Jacob Rees-Mogg’s manicured garden and the Somerset hills beyond.
“It’s obvious on a day like this, isn’t it?” said Gary Marsh, a stonemason and a neighbour of the business secretary and Conservative MP for North East Somerset. “We should be putting more money into solar and wind energy. Plus tidal power on the coast at places like Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-super-Mare. Not fracking, messing with the earth and water.”
Marsh and other residents who live near Rees-Mogg’s constituency home, the Grade II listed red sandstone mansion Gournay Court in the village of West Harptree, were digesting their MP’s claim at the Tory party conference that he would be “delighted” if his garden was fracked. “I don’t think many people around here would like that,” said Marsh.
One of Rees-Mogg’s closest neighbours, who asked not to be named, said when she thought about frackingthe image that came to mind was flames spurting from taps in the US. “And then I start getting worried about the earthquakes they had in Lancashire. It doesn’t feel wise to me. I don’t think his views represent what most people here feel.”
Another close neighbour, who also asked to remain anonymous (this is a small village and Rees-Mogg wields power), laughed when asked about fracking. “He’s just doing it to provoke discussion isn’t he? I think he is, anyway.”
David Wood, the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Mendip ward, which includes Rees-Mogg’s garden, does not believe it is a laughing matter.
“By saying he would be delighted by fracking in his back garden, Mr Rees-Mogg is showing how very out of touch he is,” said Wood. “People are crying out for help with the cost-of-living crisis, which fracking will do
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