Grant Shapps denies Tory split over onshore wind farms

Business Secretary Grant Shapps has denied determination is simply a divided successful the Tory Party implicit onshore upwind farms.

In the summertime enactment contest, Rishi Sunak had pledged to support the effectual prohibition connected caller onshore upwind successful England.

But Mr Shapps said helium did not spot this arsenic a "rebellion" due to the fact that everyone agreed determination should beryllium section consent for caller upwind turbines.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme determination was "definitely a publication to beryllium made by onshore wind", though determination should beryllium section enactment for immoderate caller turbines and ideally communities should payment from them.

"If you tin bash that past I person nary principled objection," helium added.

Onshore upwind is simply a cheap, renewable root of energy, but opponents accidental turbines are noisy and an eyesore.

During her little premiership, Ms Truss sought to unbend readying rules, which person resulted successful an effectual prohibition connected caller onshore upwind turbines.

Simon Clarke, who was a furniture curate nether Ms Truss, has tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up Bill that would overturn a readying clampdown connected onshore upwind introduced by then-Prime Minister David Cameron successful 2015.

He said the determination would let caller turbines wherever determination is section consent.

Around 30 Tory MPs are believed to person added their names to the amendment, including outgoing COP26 President Alok Sharma and erstwhile Conservative Party president Sir Jake Berry.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has besides told allies helium supports ending the prohibition connected onshore upwind farms, according to the Daily Telegraph.

But Mr Shapps denied reports of a furniture divided implicit the issue, saying "we each privation determination to beryllium section consent".

He said helium believed the amendment would springiness section communities the "final say" connected caller upwind turbines successful their country - and that this was successful enactment with his ain presumption and that of the premier minister.

Asked whether Mr Sunak would enactment the amendment, Mr Shapps said helium did not deliberation the premier curate had looked done each the readying ramifications yet, but helium added: "We've been precise clear, regardless, section communities request to some enactment and ideally spot the benefits from this."

During his first, unsuccessful, run to beryllium Conservative person implicit the summer, Mr Sunak had promised to support the prohibition connected caller onshore upwind turbines successful England.

Asked astir the prohibition earlier this month, Mr Sunak told MPs the authorities wanted to absorption connected offshore alternatively than onshore wind.

Labour person Sir Keir Starmer has said his enactment would assistance the prohibition connected onshore upwind if it wins powerfulness astatine the adjacent wide election, which is expected to instrumentality spot successful 2024.

Labour's projected readying changes see removing a proviso that allows a azygous person's objection to halt an application.

Moves to overturn the prohibition are the latest situation faced by Mr Sunak implicit his Levelling-Up Bill's readying measures.