Reform UK Eyes Port Talbot and Coal Revival

Nigel Farage and Reform UK have announced a long-term plan to reopen Port Talbot’s blast furnaces and revive Welsh coal mining as part of their 2026 Welsh Senedd election campaign. The closure of the blast furnaces in 2024 resulted in the loss of up to 2,800 jobs, and Farage blames both Labour and Conservative governments for not supporting domestic coal and steel industries. Farage argues that using Welsh coal would enhance self-sufficiency and reindustrialise Wales, opposing Labour’s Net Zero policies and the shift to electric arc furnaces. He acknowledges that reopening the mines and furnaces will require significant investment and cooperation from private partners and the UK government. Reform UK is also open to considering nationalisation if necessary, marking a departure from strict free-market principles. The campaign aims to challenge Labour’s dominance and appeal to working-class voters.