Chair of Rathlin also a chair of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) - and sees no conflict of interest

You couldn't make it up.

David Montagu-Smith, Chair of Rathlin Energy, the oil & gas company intent on industrialising the East Riding, is also Chair of CPRE West Northamptonshire District- a group that claims to Campaign to Protect Rural England.

This may go some way to explaining the group's enthusiasm in campaigning against wind turbines, with industrial Dave personally writing this letter on the group's behalf, thanking an MP for asking for wind subsidies to cut.

Vested interests?  Surely not!

One member of CPRE has spoken out, as she believes he helped shape the organisation's policy on fracking.

Funniest of all, Smith himself seems utterly oblivious to the conflict of interest and, "is quite certain that the countryside has nothing to fear from the work of the oil industry...".

You can read Rathlin's Statement here.