Reform UK Plans Immediate Fracking Ban Lift, Urges Firms to Prepare

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice, has announced plans to lift the existing fracking ban immediately if they come into power, urging energy firms to prepare for renewed shale gas extraction. They argue that the UK sits on potentially "hundreds of billions" of pounds worth of shale gas and describe leaving it untapped as "grossly financially negligent." However, the party faces resistance within its own ranks, exemplified by a Reform local councilor in Lancashire who opposes fracking in his area, highlighting regional concerns. Fracking has been repeatedly banned in the UK since 2011 due to environmental and seismic safety concerns, including minor earthquakes and groundwater contamination, with previous attempts under governments like David Cameron's failing amid public protests and legal challenges. Critics warn that reviving fracking risks turning parts of Britain into industrial wastelands, endangering public health and natural landscapes, while noting Reform UK’s significant fossil fuel industry funding. Despite optimism from Reform UK, experts and former energy ministers remain skeptical about the feasibility and safety of large-scale fracking in the UK, especially given the country's geology and past experiences.