Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Manifesto Promises Expansion of Oil and Gas Exploration
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has launched its manifesto, revealing controversial pledges to expand oil and gas exploration and open new coal mines. The document, funded by climate science deniers and fossil fuel interests, states the party’s intention to “scrap net zero”, the UK’s legally-binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reform UK aims to fast-track licenses for North Sea gas and oil, introduce test sites for fracking, and increase lithium mining for electric batteries.
The manifesto has sparked criticism from environmental groups and experts. Coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, is condemned by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for its contributions to global warming. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Critics point out that Reform’s manifesto is financially unsound and based on flawed assumptions. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has called the numbers “problematic”, highlighting significant discrepancies in proposed spending and tax cuts. The Climate Change Committee estimates that achieving net zero will cost less than 1% of the UK’s annual economic output, contradicting Reform’s claim of saving £30 billion annually.
Reform’s funding from wealthy donors with ties to climate denial and polluting industries has also come under scrutiny. Former party leader Richard Tice, a prominent climate science denier, has contributed large sums to Reform, as has Jeremy Hosking, whose investment firm has significant holdings in the fossil fuel sector. The party’s connections to fossil fuel interests raise concerns about its commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Despite criticism, Reform UK remains defiant in its stance. The party argues that economic growth depends on cheap domestic energy and dismisses concerns about climate change, asserting that adaptation is the key. As political parties outline their environmental policies, the debate over the future of UK energy and climate action continues to intensify.
