Green campaigners have warned that voters in Thursday's local elections must understand the links between the cost-of-living crisis and fossil fuels, or risk making the situation worse. Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said the elections have a global context driven by the Iran war, and urged voters to choose parties that offer a way out of the 'fossil fuel doom loop' by backing renewables.
The Reform party, led by Nigel Farage, is expected to do well in the roughly 5,000 council seats up for grabs across England, Scotland and Wales. Reform has vowed to encourage fracking, impose punitive taxes on renewable energy, and block solar and windfarms. The Conservatives have also embraced more North Sea drilling and downplayed the climate crisis.
However, Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said new oil and gasfields would do little to improve energy security or ease high prices. Mike Childs of Friends of the Earth argued that boosting renewables offers a better way out of the crisis, as solar and wind are cheaper, more secure, and not subject to stranglehold by hostile forces.
Beyond energy, voters care about cheaper bills, better housing, green spaces, and bus services, according to Friends of the Earth. Water and air pollution are also major concerns, said Ed Matthew of E3G. Tactical voting may play a significant role, with VoteClimate identifying about 1,800 seats where the Green party has a chance of winning, including 240 'supermarginals' where the outcome could hinge on 50 votes.
In rural areas, the National Farmers' Union highlighted issues such as planning, rural crime, poor internet, and food procurement. NFU president Tom Bradshaw said confidence in farming remains low due to cost pressures from feed, fuel, and fertiliser, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and extreme weather.
