Net Zero sweats under Reform’s stern gaze: Time for energy firms to engage with Farage?

Reform caused a major stir with a resounding victory in the local elections last week. Nigel Farage and his party, at a local level at least, are a protest vote no more.

New to power, Reform is primed to swing its policy scythe at climate change. Specifically, it wants to get rid of the Net Zero target. Government thinking and energy sector companies will have to take notice.

Reform does not yet have a wealth of policy commitments, but one thing its leaders are clear on is their opposition to Net Zero. Reform’s rhetoric on the subject is unapologetic. Farage recently advised Durham County Council that anyone working on climate change initiatives “better really be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly”. No doubt this will spread beyond County Durham.

But Reform will now have to move beyond the rhetoric. The question is: What will it actually do on Net Zero?

Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, is on record rebranding Net Zero as ‘net stupid zero’, saying in February that Reform would tax the renewable energy sector and scrap the Net Zero target. With this policy position in mind, firms in the energy sector should start thinking seriously about how they might engage with the party.

The muted success of the Green Party shows that Labour, if it wants to prise back unhappy voters, is more likely to move closer to Reform on Net Zero than continue its current journey. As the Government starts to think about whether it may need to shift its stance to better align with public opinion, firms in the energy sector should also be looking at what they need to do.

Those in the energy sector engaging with policymakers will have to ensure they can stay attuned to any potential changes in Government policy informed by the local elections. Reform will likely become increasingly institutionalised post-victory, potentially establishing its own group within the Local Government Association.

Reform’s success so far is on display, but much still remains unclear from a policy perspective. But one thing is clear: Reform has Net Zero in its sights and the Government is on the backfoot. Who will blink first?

For organisations involved in the sector, the question of whether to engage with Reform is now firmly at their door. As a specialist in communications and public affairs, Luther Pendragon is well placed to help energy firms navigate this new political reality. Get in touch@ publicaffairs@luther.co.uk