Reform UK just put energy industry orthodoxy on notice in seven-word statement

Clearly excited at the prospect of a second ‘America First’ policy agenda in the White House, set out a clear UK First message in London on Wednesday.

The target was energy and scrapping net zero, with Farage and deputy Reform UK leader attacking a cosy Westminster consensus on the subject.

While Farage maintains he is an environmentalist and no climate change denier, he stated that he doesn’t know how much of the latter is man made and wants a balance struck when it comes to energy bills.

When it comes to renewables meanwhile, Tice said: “Reform is serving notice on the industry.”

Reform UK policies include a ‘windfall tax on wind’ while farmers will be encouraged to ditch renewable subsidies, especially since Reform sees solar farms undermining food security in a competition for space.

Hence – under Reform’s plans – farmers who use land for solar panels will be subject to a ‘special tax’ upon death, likely in line with inheritance tax, while battery energy systems built alongside solar farms will also end.

It’s a bold move. The public is generally supportive of green policies – though it depends how questions are framed – and Reform cannot afford to be seen as ‘nasty’ on the subject.

Yet in drawing a clear dividing line between Reform and the other main parties, Farage and Tice are looking not only to build on opinion poll momentum but to establish the party as very much the one on the side of the average struggling taxpayer.

For the same reason Farage is clear about no deal with the tainted , lest voters decide a vote for Reform is a vote for the anyway. In a bid to attract voters and donors, Farage is smart to establish clear blue water between Reform UK and the .

With a bold set of energy policies, Reform UK is showing growing confidence in time for this year’s local elections. Expect to see more bold announcements in the months ahead.