Reform UK has pledged to reverse the government's ban on new North Sea oil and gas drilling as a "day one" priority if elected, with the taxpayer taking a stake in the projects. The party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, has met with senior UK oil executives in recent weeks to promise support for the industry, which has been affected by the windfall tax and block on fresh exploration licences.
Tice told energy bosses to expect a reversal of the ban alongside billions of pounds of public investment in their projects if the party comes to power in the 2029 election. The public investments would effectively hand taxpayers an equity stake in North Sea fossil fuel developments that have stalled after Labour's manifesto pledge to end new exploration licences.
"As long as there's oil in the North Sea, we should be drilling for it," a Reform UK spokesperson said, adding that there were "clear benefits for securing jobs and energy independence." The party's early move to court the oil industry coincides with calls from US President Donald Trump for the UK to incentivise modernised drilling.
Reform said it would reveal further energy policy details later, which could include plans to reverse all renewable energy subsidies, effectively dismantling the government's net zero agenda. "If people want to invest in renewables without subsidies they'd be welcome to do that," the spokesperson added.
Tice earlier warned that the party plans to block "net stupid zero" infrastructure, including renewable energy projects in Lincolnshire, where Reform recently took control of the county council. He stated: "We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct... So give up and go away."
