Whips Escalate Labour Fracking Vote To 'Confidence Motion'

Deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker has issued a call to all Conservative MPs stating that a motion before the Commons later today put forward by the opposition centre-left Labour Party, "...is not a motion on fracking. This is a confidence motion in the gov't." Vote will not be an official confidence vote, but will now be watched v closely for signs of further division within governing centre-right Conservative party.

• Whittaker says that the vote, taking place this afternoon/evening, is 'a hard three-line whip with all slips withdrawn'. This is the highest level of demand issued by party whips, indicating that any MP not voting with the gov't will face severe reprimand, with no absence 'slips' to be allowed.
• Seen as big test for gov't stability. Major rebellion could be the spark that ignites pyre of Truss gov't, however if Labour motion defeated the opposition will hang the issue of fracking (often unpopular at local level) around Conservative MPs' necks.
• If Labour win the vote they take control of the order paper on 29 November, and despite being in opposition would effectively be acting as the executive.
• PM Liz Truss faces only her third session of PMQs at 1200BST (0700ET, 1300CET), likely to prove a v difficult session for Truss following collapse of her economic plans and continued speculation as to her longevity in office. Livestream:https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6781e4ba-cac...