Reform’s £30bn net zero claim piles pressure on Tories to soften stance

Reform UK claims that scrapping net zero targets could save the public sector £30 billion per annum, piling additional pressure on the Conservatives to weaken their commitment to cutting emissions.

In its “contract” with the British people, published today (17 June), the right wing challenger party doubles down on its opposition to the 2050 net zero emissions target introduced by the government in 2019.

Reform’s contract claims that ditching net zero and related subsidies within the first 100 days of the next Parliament could save the public sector more than £30 billion per annum for the next 25 years.

Scrapping energy levies and net zero could save each household £500 per year on their bills, it goes on to claim.

However, Reform’s 28-page contract – which is effectively a party manifesto – doesn’t specify how these savings would be generated beyond a pledge to save £10 billion per annum by scrapping renewable energy subsidies and imposing “equivalent taxes” on such projects instead.

The document justifies this mooted policy switch by claiming that “renewables are not cheaper” and that bills have “increased dramatically in line with the huge increase in renewables capacity over the last 15 years”.

Reform UK, which has been leading the Conservatives in some recent opinion polls since its founder Nigel Farage announced that he is standing for the Clacton constituency, says it would unlock Britain’s vast oil and gas reserves to “beat the cost-of-living crisis and unleash real economic growth”.

Beyond the first 100 days, the party pledges to fast-track new UK-manufactured small modular reactors, incentivise ethical UK lithium mining for electric batteries and explore clean coal mining as well as combined cycle gas turbines and tidal power.

Reform UK’s contract is likely to embolden right wing net zero sceptics in the Tory party to further backtrack on efforts to reach the 2050 goal.

Commenting on Reform’s manifesto, Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, said that it is “very, very clear” that the price of gas that has been “driving up bills over the past few years”.

“Net zero means shifting away from gas to more British offshore wind so we’re less vulnerable to the swings of the gas market. Anyone who’s paid an energy bill knows that to be the case,” she said.

Ed Matthew, campaigns director at climate and energy think tank E3G added: “Nigel Farage’s pitch to obliterate net zero investment would damage the UK’s economic recovery and keep UK households hooked on high-cost gas.

“Net zero is the economic opportunity of the century. Farage is a climate change denier, in the pocket of fossil fuel vested interests, and he has presented a ‘contract’ to bankrupt Britain and condemn future generations to climate catastrophe.”

To read Utility Week’s analysis of other party manifestos, click here.