What Are Political Policies of Reform UK?

Beavers at risk from Reform UK (Holly Astle)

Reform UK of course is known for its policies on illegal immigration, but it does have other policies. A few are good (scrapping HS2 which Barn Owl Trust says is ‘a very expensive way of killing owls’), reducing bureaucracy and protecting pensioners. But it also has some very concerning policies.

It’s really important whoever you vote  for (and we are fortunate to live in a democracy where you can vote for who you like) to read the manifestos, or visit the website to look up policies. Don’t just rely on soundbites or a short interview or someone appearing on Question Time.

This is the rest of your life (and of others). So do your homework, before you put the x in the box at the ballot station.

Reform UK was started as a private company with Nigel Farage holding most shares. Today it’s still a company (non-profit) and political party.

Open Democracy writes that it’s received over £5 million from wealthy donors (linked to fossil fuels and tax havens), leading some to claim this is a ‘party of millionaires, funded by billionaires who claim to be on the side of working people’.

Supports Zero Hour Contracts

In fact, one policy is for zero hour contracts, meaning that if you got fired, your boss could hire you back on less pay. And no sick pay (so terrible for stable incomes and contracts needed, to pay rent and secure mortgages).

Green leader Zack Polanksi visited Nigel’s constituency of Clacton-on-Sea soon after his win, and explained this policy to one man who had voted Reform UK. He was shocked, saying ‘I thought he was supposed to be on our side?’

Why does Nigel Farage want me to lose my job? Worker in a Merseyside factory that makes electric cars

Ignoring the Paris Climate Agreement

Ignoring the Paris Climate Agreement by drilling for more North Sea oil and gas, which will lead to more natural disasters (floods, heatwaves, wildfires, rising sea levels, oil spills). Conservatives are going the same way, though it looks like they are finished as a party anyway, so their policies are no longer really relevant. Read more on how to respond to climate science deniers.

In 2022, temperatures reaches a previously impossible 40c, causing excess deaths. Firefighters are having to battle both wildfires and floods. Farmers’ crop yields are hit by extreme drought and floods.

We are running out of time. Yet Reform UK wish to scrap climate action. Campaign Against Climate Change

Supports Nuclear Energy

Policies include small nuclear reactors, mining for electric batteries, ‘clean coal mining’, and fast-track licenses to drill for oil and coal in the North Sea, compensating local people?

Also to give licenses for shale gas (fracking) which can cause fire to come out of tap water, and possible earthquakes and even cancer in local communities.

Fast-tracking nuclear energy, so antiquated and dangerous, that England’s only remaining plant (Sellafield in Cumbria) is being decommissioned, which will take decades.

Austria and New Zealand have no nuclear power, investing in walkable communities and organic local food, for economies that need far less oil.

The promise to bring down energy bills by £500 from unlocking oil and gas reserves could still be achieved by creating skilled jobs to insulate all older homes.

Use Rewilded Land to Industrial Farmland

The party wants to stop rewilding (leaving land to nature to restore endangered wildlife) to turn land over to agricultural land for farmers.

We can still support nature-friendly farming, without making dormice and water voles going extinct.

Bring Back ‘Country Sports’ (hunting)

Protecting ‘country sports’ which means a return to animal hunting (which again causes floods by removing endangered peat bogs, for grouse shooting). Over-breeding of pheasants also leads to a huge number of car accidents.

Supports Trickledown Economics

Trickle-down economics (tax cuts for the rich to provide jobs for the poor) never works. Rather than pursuing economic growth, progressive countries in Scandinavia  (and Costa Rica) have switched to a Happiness Index, which focuses on quality of life.

A Basic Income would enable carers, parents, part-time workers and volunteers to live well, creating a ”people’s army’ to become the great nation that Reform UK presumably wants us to be.