Reform UK net zero assault risks 13,000 jobs and £1bn for Lancashire
PLUS: Prison staff failed to call an ambulance for an armed robber with swastika tattoos on his arms in the run up to his death from a heart condition
Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.
Today we report on how Reform UK’s plans to cut through green investment in Lancashire could affect the county.
One thing that came up more than once during the election was the sense Labour and the Conservatives are similar. It’s a criticism that cut through and enabled Reform UK to be presented as an alternative - but it really is quite rare that those two parties actually agree on something.
But senior figures in the county with both Labour and the Conservative are worried about what any blow for net zero infrastructure could mean for the local economy. And it’s easy to see why - the various projects total about £1bn of added value in a county that sees plenty of deprivation.
Reform UK’s national policy on this is crystal clear. If you want to invest in green infrastructure and jobs, they’re going to be a nuisance and make it very difficult. But national policy and local policy haven’t always lined up for the party. Nationally, the party are in favour of licences for fracking, for example, but locally the candidates voiced their scepticism during the election campaign.
In lieu of a proper response from Reform UK locally, it’s hard to say if they are on board with the plan that would actively harm the Lancashire economy. It’s feasible they, like with the own goal over county flags last week, are shaking their head at receiving a hospital pass from national figures.
Elsewhere, we also have a report on the investigation into the death of an inmate at HMP Preston and a warning that more will happen unless action is taken.
‘Action on clean energy is a vital part of building our Lancashire economy’
By Luke Beardsworth
Reform UK’s plans to restrict and obstruct green energy projects across Lancashire put over 13,000 jobs and over £1bn of value to the local economy at risk, analysis suggests.
Nigel Farage’s party is now in control of Lancashire County Council after an overwhelming victory in the 1 May elections. They will appoint their first leader of that council on Monday.
But national politics continue to dominate the agenda, and public mood, and Reform UK have long stated their opposition to Net Zero. The party’s deputy leader Richard Tice said its new council leaders would block, hinder and obstruct climate infrastructure including solar farms, pylons and battery storage systems.
Tice said: “We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct, we will put every hurdle in your way. It’s going to cost you a fortune, and you’re not going to win. So give up and go away.”
But analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says that net zero jobs are worth £1.16bn of added value to Lancashire’s wider economy and account for 13,421 (2.62% of total jobs).
The analysis suggests that Morecambe and Lunesdale, Lancaster and Wyre and Hyndburn would be the areas most affected by Reform UK’s plans and the Labour MPs in the north of the county point to the double win of tackling climate change while creating jobs and - eventually - reducing bills.
Lizzi Collinge, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, told The Lancashire Lead: “Action on clean energy is a vital part of rebuilding our economy. Clean energy projects, such as new nuclear, wind and solar, are essential to tackle climate change, which is scientifically proven to be a danger to people in Lancashire both now and in the future. They are also vital for reducing bills and creating jobs.
"Ideological attacks on net zero action ignores the reality of Lancashire's experience - the floods we've experienced, the cold homes, the air pollution and the people stuck out in villages due to lack of public transport. People are clear they want warm, safe homes, clean air and good public transport.
"Action on net zero is not only needed to combat climate change, it is needed to make people's lives better. The cost of new infrastructure, which creates jobs and economic activity, is also far less than trying to mop up the mess that climate change is making and will make in the future. Inaction now will cost us more in the future.
"This is another example of Reform ignoring economic and scientific reality in favour of attention-grabbing headlines. They are fundamentally not serious about running local councils for the benefit of residents."
Cat Smith, MP for neighbouring Lancaster and Wyre, added: “Local residents tell me they want lower energy bills, and we know that building clean home-grown energy projects are key to lowering household bills as well as creating jobs.
“Reform’s knee jerk ideological kick back only frustrates the progress the Labour government is making to ease that cost-of-living crisis left by the last Conservative government as they make the same mistakes. I’d implore Reform to put the people of Lancashire first and make decisions to help local people’s lives better, not worse.”
The criticism of Reform UK’s net zero scepticism is cross-party and near-unanimous. Reform UK will justifiably point to having the mandate to put their policies into action as much as running County Hall will allow. But according to data from YouGov the UK’s focus on net zero is not a high priority for Reform UK voters compared to issues such as immigration, multiculturalism, defence spending and soft sentences in court.
And given Reform UK’s efforts to position themselves as anti-establishment and different to the other parties, there is a danger that consensus from politicians of different colours simply emboldens them.
Aidy Riggott is the new Conservative leader at County Hall and points to the Lancashire Growth Plan which shows that clean energy and nuclear energy are a key opportunity for growth in the county.
He told The Lancashire Lead: “Lancashire’s economy is well known for its Advanced Manufacturing expertise and there is close alignment between this sector and the Clean Growth and Net Zero economy and the opportunities that exist there.
“Lancashire and its businesses are at the forefront of the Electech and Innovation Cluster as well as the Low Carbon Sector and the previous Conservative administration was proud to support them and work alongside those business leaders. I met many of them in my previous role as Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth and found them to be hugely impressive and knowledgeable about the future direction of Lancashire’s economy.”
He is calling on Stephen Atkinson - who at the time of writing is expected to be the new Reform UK leader at County Hall but it remains unconfirmed - to commit to not withdrawing support.
He said: “In my view, as the Conservative Group Leader on LCC, it is crucial that Lancashire retains its place at the forefront of growth in these areas, that our ambition is not dimmed and that Lancashire County Council continues to work to maximise the opportunities these sectors offer for jobs, growth and prosperity.
“We cannot turn our back on these openings because of a diktat from Reform HQ, to do so would be incredibly irresponsible and narrow-minded.
“I call on county councillor Stephen Atkinson, the anticipated new Reform Leader of Lancashire County Council and also the expected new Leader of the Lancashire County Combined Authority to confirm that there will be no change of direction nor any withdrawal of support for this sector and from those businesses, and that he will continue to champion these fantastic businesses standing shoulder to shoulder with them to drive growth right across Lancashire.
“After all, let’s not forget that as Leader of Ribble Valley Council, county councillor Atkinson was highly supportive of its ‘Environment and Climate’ pledges and commitments including those on Net Zero.”
Maya Ellis is MP for the Ribble Valley, which has just returned two of the more politically experienced Reform UK candidates in Atkinson and former Tory Ged Mirfin.
In her constituency, Net Zero projects are worth £92m and contribute a total of 1,189 jobs.
She told The Lancashire Lead: “This is about investing in the future - not just for the country, but right here in Lancashire and Ribble Valley. People want to see action that makes a difference to their lives now, not just promises for later. Net Zero isn’t some distant ideal - it means new jobs, cleaner air, and stronger local communities.”
And in Preston, that amount is £131m and a total of 1,521 jobs. Matthew Brown, whose division is Preston Central West, was one of the Labour county councillors who was successfully re-elected to Lancashire County Council. He is also the leader of Preston City Council.
He pointed to the level of air pollution in communities and the amount of deaths this is estimated to cause, while also the contribution the industry makes to the economy.
He told The Lancashire Lead: “The plans from Reform UK across Lancashire are very worrying. Moving toward net zero has many proven benefits including reducing the worrying levels of air pollution in our communities acknowledged by The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to cause 40,000 deaths each year in the UK including in Preston
“Additionally, it is one of the fastest growing sectors in our local economy supporting 1500 jobs for working people in communities across Preston. Any attempts by the new Reform UK administration to cause significant job losses in Preston will be challenged by the Lancashire Labour Group alongside our trade union partners who have expressed similar concerns about the direction of the new administration.”
The Lancashire Lead approached Reform UK locally seeking clarification on whether they would line up behind the national policy on net zero and climate projects. We were promised a response but it did not come in time for publication. The first Lancashire County Council full council meeting under the new leadership is on 22 May.
A new Tet-low
By Paul Faulkner
There have been cross-party calls for Reform UK to throw out one of their new Lancashire county councillors after he posted a picture of Hitler on his Facebook page.
The image – shared by Accrington North representative Joel Tetlow – was captioned seemingly to compare the arrival of small boats across the Channel to a Nazi invasion.
It comes just days after he became one of 53 Reform candidates elected to Lancashire County Council, which Reform now controls.
The leaders of the shrunken Conservative and Labour groups on the authority condemned the post, variously, as “highly offensive” and “abhorrent” – and said he should be removed from his party.
Reform UK at a national level said it would not be commenting on the matter, while the local party is yet to respond to a request to do so.
There were also attempts to contact County Cllr Tetlow himself, who has told Sky News he was indeed likening small boats to “an invasion”, although one more akin to that of the Trojan War – and that he did not intend “any disrespect” by using the image of the Nazi leader in the week of the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The post – which has now been deleted and was flagged by a Twitter/X account called ‘Reform Party UK Exposed’ – showed Hitler and others looking at a map and featured text at the top of the image which read: “Why don’t we invade them slowly? A few men at a time in small boats.”
At the bottom of the picture were the words: “Don’t be stupid, that will never work.”
In his accompanying post – the original of which has not been seen by the LDRS – County Cllr Tetlow said: “Let’s be grateful this idea was never put to him. Or the world as we know it would be a whole lot different.”
County Cllr Aidy Riggott, leader of the Conservative opposition group at County Hall said the material and comments were “deeply disgusting and highly offensive and they have no place in politics or in society”.
He added: “I hope and pray that this post is not a reflection of the thinking of the new Reform administration at County Hall.
“They should immediately kick County Cllr Joel Tetlow out of their group and out of the party to send a clear message to the people of Lancashire that this is not acceptable behaviour.”
In a statement issued to Sky News on Wednesday, County Cllr Tetlow, who was criticised in the run-up to the local elections for sharing a post from a group widely considered to be far-right, said: “We do not know who these people are, and I was likening it to an invasion – just as in Greece they used a wooden horse to sneak into Troy during the Trojan War, disguising their soldiers inside.
“Only yesterday, eight Iranians were arrested looking to attack our country. We just want to protect our great country and the citizens within it.
“I feel that this post is being taken out of context. I had removed the post, because even though I know what I meant to say, I had people slating me again and didn’t want a repeat of last time.
“I have also received a call from Reform UK who has also asked me to remove it. I don’t mean any disrespect, especially with it being around VE Day, but as I said I likened it more to the Trojan horse coming in small [boats].
“We did fight off an assault in the First and Second World War, and we owe a huge gratitude to the soldiers who fought in both of those wars.”
Prison staff failed to call ambulance for armed robber with swastika tattoos
Prison staff failed to call an ambulance promptly for an armed robber with swastika tattoos on his arms in the run up to his death from a heart condition, it has been revealed.
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