Amber Rudd has played the latest card in her war against the anti-fracking lobby and it’s a blinder – if councils take longer than 16 weeks to rule on fracking applications, the government will sweep in and make the decision for them. She also warned that the government could routinely take over shale gas drilling applications, especially if councils repeatedly drag out the application process.

The new approach will come as a relief to those who watched Lancashire County Council drag their feet for over year before finally rejecting Cuadrilla’s application to drill – against the advise of their own planning officers. The announcement combined with today’s policy statement affirming that “natural gas is absolutely vital to the economy” and David Cameron tweeting links to videos explaining the fracking process should leave people in no doubt as to which way the wind is blowing. Frack on…