The environment secretary has given his backing to a new coalmine in Cumbria on the eve of a government decision about whether to approve the contentious project.
George Eustice said the alternative was “outsourcing pollution” to countries where standards would be lower.
The proposal for a mine at Whitehaven has the support of local Conservative MPs but is unpopular with environmental campaigners. Developers want to drill underneath the Irish Sea to extract coking coal used for steelmaking. Around 36 per cent of the coal is imported from Russia at present. Michael Gove, the levelling-up, communities and housing secretary, has been asked to announce whether the mine will go ahead by tomorrow.
The mine was initially approved by Cumbria council but is subject to a public
