HOUSTON — Government investigators are turning their attention this week to actions by onshore managers for BP and Transocean that may have contributed to the oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
But campaigners contrasted the government's approach to localism and shale gas, with its action on planning rules for onshore windfarms.
Asked in what circumstances he envisaged a referendum being held, the UKIP leader said people should be able to call a vote "to stop something from happening" that they objected to, whether it was overseas military action or the further expansion of onshore wind turbines.
The suggestion that it will take unilateral action against a single technology such as onshore wind by introducing draconian measures into the planning system will be problematic for the Tories.
The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in New York, Janice K. Fedarcyk, said in a statement that the settlement would allow "for serious compensation of victims" and that the case "should serve as a deterrent to others who look to actively circumvent United States law — onshore or offshore, you will be held responsible for those actions".
"It is not right that the onshore oil and gas industry has to deal with threats of direct action, intimidation and 'mass civil obedience' against our staff and property, which prevent us carrying out our lawful operations," he said.
"However, it is not right that the onshore oil and gas industry has to deal with threats of direct action, intimidation and 'mass civil disobedience' against our staff and property, which prevent us carrying out our lawful operations," he said.
But the action on the water paled in comparison to the storms brewing onshore.
The G8 action plan said: "Beneficial ownership information on companies should be accessible onshore to law enforcement, tax administrations and other relevant authorities, including, as appropriate, financial intelligence units.
My experience as energy and climate change secretary – in the months I spent battling George Osborne over the budget for investment in low carbon, and in the daily attrition with Eric Pickles over onshore wind – was that many Conservatives simply regard their commitment to climate change action as something they had to say to get into power.
