Conservative Lord Howell suggests fracking move to 'desolate' North East
Peers in the House of Lords gasped in shock and disbelief when a Conservative peer suggested that fracking could take place in the "desolate" North East of England.
Lord Howell has since apologised for his claims that the controversial form of gas production would suit the area as it is "uninhabited and desolate."
ITV News deputy political editor Chris Ship reports:
Lord Howell of Guildford said:
To stunned exclamations, the southern-based peer added:
His comments were met with fury from fellow, northern, peers and campaigners and sparked a Twitter campaign.
Online those living in the north started tweeting pictures of their areas using the #desolate:
The Archbishop of Canterbury also responded, the Most Reverend Justin Welby was formerly the Bishop of Durham:
Lord Howell later apologised for his remarks saying: