UK politics: Britain's new PM Sunak reinstates fracking ban

On being asked about moving ahead with allowing fracking, Sunak told MPs: "I have already said I stand by the manifesto on that."

The ruling Tories had introduced a moratorium on controversial gas fracking in England after committing to a ban in a 2019 manifesto that saw them elected with an 80-seat majority. 

But both Truss and Sunak had said they would allow fracking where there was local consent. 

Sunak has reinstated the fracking ban in the U-turn on the summer campaign. For the unversed, Hydraulic fracturing, (or fracking), is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock.

The process involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer to release the gas inside. 
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After Sunak became Britain's Prime Minister, world leaders congratulated him. But the Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not congratulate Sunak on his appointment as Britain is considered an "unfriendly" country by Moscow. 

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "Britain currently belongs to the category of unfriendly countries. So no, a (congratulations) telegram was not sent." 

The Prime Minister's Questions session, Rishi Sunak's first, has ended.

Many Labour MPs including Keir Starmer, have again demanded a general election.

Labour MP Janet Daby called Sunak administration a "topsy-turvy Tory government".

She said that her constituents are demanding a general election.

"They are demanding a general election," she said. "Can the prime minister tell me and my constituents when there will be a general election?" she asks.
 

Opposition asked why Suella Braverman has been re-appointed as home secretary in spite of her alleged breach of ministerial code, and demanded her ouster.

The issue was mentioned by Labour Party as well as Scottish National Party.

While answering Labour Party's Starmer, PM Sunak said Braverman 'made an error of judgment'.

Sunak has said that his government will restore economic stability.

Labour leader Keir Starmer called PM Sunak 'weak' and accused him of having put 'party first, country second'.

PM Rishi Sunak is in the parliament to face the Opposition for his first PMQ.

UK PM Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy hunt have postponed the much awaited presentation of fiscal statement.

The new date is November 17.

In an indication that the Opposition is planning to corner PM Sunak over Suella Braverman, Labour Party's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and demanded an investigation into alleged breach of the ministerial code

The Cabinet meeting has ended. Sunak is now preparing for PMQ.

UK pound has jumped more than one per cent against US dollar. Markets have reacted positively to Rishi Sunak's appointment as UK PM.

Pound was at $1.1598.

As Sunak prepares to face the Opposition for the first time, it is being expected that he would be asked pointed questions by the Opposition over Home Secretary Suella Braverman's appointment.

Less than a week ago, Braverman was forced to resign as home secretary. Her re-appointment on the same post in Rishi Sunak's cabinet has started a discussion in UK political circles.

The Labour Party is expected to probe this matter during PMQ today.

UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is expected to delay presenting the fiscal statement, the current due date for which is October 31, as per report by The Times.

The report has said that PM Rishi Sunak is considering postponing the statement to next month in order to consider options to improve the economy.

Cabinet members have begun to arrive at UK PM Rishi Sunak's official residence 10, Downing Street for first cabinet meeting.

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