The Latest Breaking News from Coal

Michael Gove accused of 'vandalism' over new coal mine and blasted by Speaker

A Commons debate on the approval of the UK's first coal mine in decades descended into chaos after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle savaged Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove for failing to provide a copy of the statement

Daily Mirror · Dec 8, 2022

Cumbria coal mine: empty promises of carbon capture tech have excused digging up more fossil fuel for decades

The idea that a technology called carbon capture and storage (CCS) could catch molecules of CO₂ as they emerge from the chimneys of power stations and factories has been around for more than two decades. Michael Gove, the secretary of state responsible for “levelling up” the UK’s regions, recently justified…

The Conversation · Dec 8, 2022

Cumbria coalmine is owned by private equity firm with Caymans base

West Cumbria Mining, which set up Whitehaven office during push for new mine, owned by EMR Capital

The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2022

Commons suspended in row over Michael Gove’s Cumbria coal mine statement

‘This is not the way we do good government,’ the speaker fumed at Gove

The Independent UK · Dec 8, 2022

Mongolians brave bitter cold to protest 'coal theft' corruption

Mongolian protesters gathered in the capital in temperatures well below freezing on Thursday to denounce perceived government corruption for a fifth day, even after the arrests of eight officials suspected of so-called coal theft.

Reuters · Dec 8, 2022

'Reckless climate vandalism': Michael Gove slammed for approving new coal mine

THE Scottish Greens have said the UK Government has “bulldozed a Westminster sized hole” into its net zero commitments after approving the first…

The National (Scotland) · Dec 8, 2022

New Cumbria coalmine ‘like opening a Betamax factory’, says Tim Farron

Cumbrian Lib Dem MP condemns decision to give green light to Britain’s first new coalmine in 30 years

The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2022

Cumbria coal mine a win for the working class, claims Tory MP

Climate campaigners ‘not friends of the working class’, says Lee Anderson

The Independent UK · Dec 8, 2022

Whitehaven divided as new coalmine brings 500 jobs - but is cost to climate worth it?

Nowhere is more divided than Whitehaven in Cumbria, where the mine will produce 2.8 million tonnes of coking coal a year – largely for export to other countries

Daily Mirror · Dec 8, 2022

From dead drops to laser-spying: tradecraft through the decades

New ITVX drama A Spy Among Friends explores the incredible story of two real-life MI6 spies – Nicholas Elliott (Damian Lewis) and Kim Philby (Guy Pearce) – whose decades-long friendship fell apart when Philby was revealed to be a treacherous double agent, spilling secrets to the KGB. Here historian Guy…

The Independent UK · Dec 8, 2022