Lincolnshire’s Reform party mayor, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, personally reached out to the head of an American oil and gas dynasty in an effort to bring fracking to the county, according to documents obtained by the Guardian. Jenkyns contacted Egdon Resources, a British subsidiary of US fracker Heyco Energy, after the company announced a major gas discovery in the Gainsborough Trough last year.
In a message sent to Egdon’s general inbox in June, Jenkyns expressed her support for fracking and asked how she “could help with your recent gas find in my county”. The company’s CEO, Mark Abbott, replied within 11 minutes, offering a meeting. Since then, Jenkyns has met fracking companies at least four times, with subsequent meetings involving Heyco owner George Yates, a Trump donor and member of a New Mexico oil dynasty.
Documents released under freedom of information laws show that Jenkyns and county officials discussed “the potential of shale gas in the Gainsborough Trough” and “how to build support for its development”. Abbott also suggested arranging a visit to a US shale operation and a meeting with Yates and his daughter. Jenkyns, a staunch critic of net zero who has described the concept as a “con”, praised the gas find in a Facebook video as a “no-brainer”.
However, fracking remains controversial in the UK. A 2023 ban was imposed due to earthquake risks, and polling shows 51% of the public oppose the practice. Even Reform-led councils in Lancashire and Scarborough have rejected similar projects. Richard Davies, Conservative group leader at Lincolnshire County Council, said fracking was “extremely controversial” and questioned the risks versus benefits.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson stated the government intends to “ban fracking for good” and focus on clean energy. Yates, who has links to the climate sceptic Global Warming Policy Foundation, spoke at the first Lincolnshire Energy Conference in February 2025, where he downplayed concerns about fracking chemicals and touted benefits over renewables.
