I am no fan of Nigel Farage or his party, Reform UK. However, I cannot deny that they have performed a useful service in making the wisdom of net zero a topic that is being talked about more and more, with even the Conservative Party (the party which introduced net zero when Theresa May was Prime Minister) now openly questioning the wisdom of rushing to achieve it. Today the BBC website has an article asking “What might Reform do with its newly-won power?” (that power being control of ten local authorities within England – see below). It quotes Nigel Farage thus:

“I think you all better really be seeking alternative careers,” he warned council staff who were “working on climate change initiatives, or Diversity, Equality and Inclusion” or opting to work from home.

It’s the climate change (or net zero) part of that which I wish to discuss. Reform UK at this stage can do nothing to stop or even slow the net zero juggernaut at national level, but perhaps there is something it can now be doing at a local level, and perhaps that might turn out to have larger consequences.

Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Council’s Climate Change Strategy was approved by Cabinet in October 2021, and the Council is apparently on a journey to net zero carbon. Parts of its “journey” are difficult to argue with, such as monitoring and reducing energy consumption within the Council, thereby reducing costs, or enhancing and protecting diversity within the Council’s green spaces. On the other hand, I have little doubt that savings can be made, even though the Council website is coy about how much the “journey” is costing. The following aspects of the journey might be looked at again:

decarbonise our vehicle fleet with electric vehicles when there is an appropriate vehicle for the job

deliver a range of climate change training courses for employees and councillors, including a mandatory training module for all employees

run internal workshops for all service areas to develop actions to reduce emissions, achieve co-benefits of climate action and adapt to the effects of climate change

use results from the Derbyshire Spatial Energy Study to support an increase in renewable energy generation across Derbyshire

carry out climate change impact assessments on some of our biggest infrastructure projects

use our expertise and resources to promote events and support community energy groups and town and parish councils and signpost them to funding streams to support their climate and environmental projects

pilot and support partners with the use of alternative low carbon vehicles (electric and hydrogen)

Our aim is to reduce emissions we generate to net-zero by 2032 or sooner and to help the rest of Derbyshire reduce carbon emissions generated within the county to net zero by 2050 or sooner in line with government targets.

I don’t know what its 110 page glossy brochure cost to produce, but perhaps such projects could be stopped.

Doncaster

There is a Doncaster Climate and Biodiversity Commission. Local MP Ed Miliband, and local Mayor Ros Jones (who narrowly survived the recent election, allegedly and ironically because of her successful campaign to obtain government funding to help reopen the local airport) jointly produced a short video about the launch of the Doncaster Climate and Biodiversity Commission report. The report itself is rather more modest than Derbyshire’s, running as it does to only 36 pages. The new Reform UK-controlled Council has a great opportunity to make political capital out of ditching any avoidable expense associated with the report, and tweaking the tails of Mr Miliband and Ms Jones in the process.

Durham

This Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. Perhaps the declaration could now be rescinded. The 128 page glossy brochure describing itself as a Climate Change Strategy and Emergency Response Plan could be analysed for savings – I am sure there must be quite a few available.

Kent

This is another Council that declared a climate emergency in 2019. It aims to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our own estate and activities to Net Zero by 2030.” Another glossy brochure running to 92 pages (produced at goodness knows what cost), describing itself as the Kent & Medway Emissions Analysis and Pathways to Net Zero must offer scope for quite a lot of financial savings.

Lancashire

This is a Council that has really thrown itself into the net zero boondoggle with considerable enthusiasm. In March 2022 it held a Lancashire Climate Summit (the UN’s COPs just don’t hack it), and this resulted in the production of a 97 page glossy booklet . There is also a 156 page Lancashire Net Zero Pathways Options report and a lot of other similar stuff. I imagine the scope for money-saving is immense.

Lincolnshire

This Council decided against declaring a climate emergency, but its website still asserts that “Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our way of life and to all life on the planet”. Despite that its website seems a little less enthusiastic than other Council websites. Nevertheless it has a Green Masterplan, an Initial Action Plan and a glossy 66 page Carbon Management Plan that appears to have been put together with the help of the Carbon Trust (its logo appearing on every page is a bit of a giveaway). Again, then, there must be scope for savings here.

North Northamptonshire

This is yet another Council that has declared a climate emergency. It has gone further than some by working with Electric Places and Slingshot Simulations to accelerate its “net zero journey”. I don’t know what all this is costing, but I don’t doubt that savings will be available.

Nottinghamshire

This Council declared a climate emergency in 2021 and aims “to become a carbon neutral Council in all our activities by 2030, in line with our Carbon Reduction Plan”. Its Net Zero Framework document might run to only 17 pages but it’s another professionally (and no doubt expensively) produced document. One wonders why they bother, given that their website acknowledges that only two to five per cent of Nottinghamshire’s greenhouse gas emissions are within the council’s direct control. Still, that won’t stop them busting a got to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 so far as the Council’s activities are concerned, and I am sure such efforts have a hefty price tag attached.

Staffordshire

This is another Council that declared a climate emergency in 2019, though its net zero ambitions are limited to 2050. Its documents and plans are less glossy and expensively produced (at least they look less expensive) than those produced by other Councils (I love that its foreword is called a “forward”), but who knows what savings may yet be found, not least perhaps from the closure of its Climate Action Fund.

West Northamptonshire

It has a glossy 46 page Climate Change Strategy, the result of collaborative efforts of the cross-party Sustainability Working Group. Presumably that cosy consensus is about to come to an end!

Conclusion

Some of the above has been written slightly tongue in cheek, but there is a serious point here. As I have pointed out in Whatever the Cost and in numerous comments below that article, Councils up and down the country have been ploughing vast amounts of time and money into net zero, whilst at the same time cutting services because of a shortage of funds. Reform UK now controls ten English Councils which, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, have been putting great efforts (and unspecified amounts of money – their websites are all rather coy regarding such things) into trying to achieve net zero within sundry different timescales. If those Councils can be efficiently run by Reform UK, with net zero projects ditched, savings made, and consequent improvements made to other important Council services with the funds thus made available, I have little doubt it will be a vote winner. More importantly, it could demonstrate, in principle if nothing else, that savings that can be achieved at a local level could be made on a much greater scale at a national level if the economy-wrecking ideology was ditched. The Labour government is undoubtedly scared of Nigel Farage and Reform UK. It is right to be scared. If at a local level the net zero agenda can be shown up for the monumental waste of money and effort that it is, it could be a game-changer. Of course, it’s always possible that Reform UK councillors will prove themselves to be not up to the job, in which case this week’s election results might in a strange way prove to be beneficial to the two mainstream parties, however dire things look for them now. It’s all to play for, and the performance of Reform UK-run Councils will be critical going forwards, for better or for worse.

15 Comments

  2. “Reform’s councils begin war on net zero projects in countryside”

    It’s a promising headline in the Telegraph.

    Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, said the party will use its new control of ten councils to use “every lever” available to block renewable projects.

    It will make for an interesting battle. No doubt they will lose, but in so doing, may win a longer war.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Jit,

    That’s an interesting development. As you say, Reform-led Councils’ opposition to renewables developments in their areas will be trumped by the fact that Miliband has all the cards. However, it’s still a shrewd move, because it puts the Labour government in the position of opposing local democracy. Reform can portray itself as the saviour of the local countryside and Labour as the wrecker. Meanwhile it will leave the Tories squirming, and wondering which way to jump. This could rapidly become the new fault-line in UK politics, especially if – as I tried to suggest in my article – Reform-led Councils can start to restore services using funds that have to date been wasted on net zero.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. From the Telegraph article:

    ...Mr Tice will write to potential developers in Lincolnshire projects following Reform’s historic local election victories on Friday.

    He said: “I’m now going to write again to them, saying now that we’ve won these elections, you need to be under no illusion. This is war. We will wage war against you people and your terrible ideas.

    “If you think that you’re going to do this in the county of Lincolnshire, you are going to regret it. You’re going to waste your money.

    “It’s going to be very painful financially, so you might as well take your money and your daft ideas elsewhere.”

    The MP for Boston and Skegness added: “Whether it’s planning blockages, whether it’s judicial reviews, whether it’s lawsuits, whether it’s health and safety notices, we will use every available legal measure to an extreme way in order to frustrate these people.”…

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I live in Kent near sevenoaks so read the Kent ‘Scatter’ thesis with interest. I recon KCC would have saved more taxpayers cash by not producing this load of waffle. people walking more? dont make me laugh.

    I have over many years first hand experience of ‘rewilding’ (ie: maintaining)the countryside and to me it appears the ‘Carbon credits’ organisations involved in such endeavours do nothing but let the land go to waste, oh and put a token number of highland ‘methane belching’ cattle on it. I did wonder if my well managed woodland nearby doesn’t sequest any carbon? if that is even a ‘thing’.

    Anyway must dash.

    LL

    Liked by 1 person

  8. “Reform-run councils once known for green policies expected to scrap climate pledges

    Former Durham county council climate lead calls motion to rescind climate emergency declaration ‘reprehensible’”

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/15/reform-uk-councils-scrap-climate-pledges-durham-west-northamptonshire

    Two councils that have been recognised for their work to cut emissions but are now under the control of Reform UK are expected to scrap climate pledges this week.

    Durham county council’s deputy leader, the former GB News presenter Darren Grimes, has proposed a motion to rescind a 2019 declaration of a climate emergency, in what it is believed would be a UK first.

    West Northamptonshire council, meanwhile, looks set to become the first Reform-led authority to scrap net zero targets....

    ...More than 300 councils across the UK have declared climate emergencies since 2018. It is not clear if Durham’s climate emergency response plan, which includes a target of becoming a net zero council by 2030, will be abandoned, or if the motion solely relates to the declaration. The council has been contacted for comment.

    Last week West Northamptonshire council announced plans to ditch targets for the council’s operation to be net zero by 2030, along with a 2045 target for the whole borough, to “prioritise practical, realistic projects”. It comes after extensive work by the previous administration to create a new climate change strategy, which was signed off in March.

    The council says the “refocus” will enable it to “focus its limited resources on matters which directly benefit local people and businesses” and is “in recognition of the limited ability of the council to materially affect global warming given the many factors outside of its control”....

    …Kent county council, Reform’s largest, last week announced plans to slash net zero projects as part of cuts identified by its new Department for Local Government Efficiency unit. It said the funds would be “redirected back into vital services”.…

    Not surprisingly, the Guardian piece is rather scathing. The proof will be in the pudding. We all know that Council’s net zero plans will make absolutely no difference to the climate. The big question is whether Reform-controlled councils can achieve their plans, possibly in the face of hostility from Council officials; and, if so, whether it releases funds that can be better spent elsewhere.

    Like

  9. “Reform UK scraps Derbyshire climate change aim”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq65rqd38l7o

    An aim to tackle the causes and impact of climate change has been scrapped by Reform UK-led Derbyshire County Council.

    The authority will now “support the development of energy security, energy efficiency and clean energy”, it has confirmed.

    Reform UK said the decision was made due to the cost of net zero, though this figure was not confirmed….

    …Reform scrapped the county’s climate change committee in May 2025 one week after winning power, saying they did not believe the committee was of “any value”.…

    …The changes have been made in an In Year Council Plan, which will be discussed by Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet on 11 September 2025.…

    Liked by 1 person

  10. “Council deadlock over extension to net-zero target”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y48xkk7ypo

    A council’s decision to delay becoming carbon neutral by decades has split the authority.

    Reform UK-run North Northamptonshire Council had planned to extend its net-zero targets by up to 20 years.

    But at a scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, no decision was reached. The move will now be debated by the council’s executive on 9 September.

    The policy follows that of other Reform UK-led councils who have already scrapped their 2030 net-zero targets, including West Northamptonshire Council, external.

    Officers told members the council had not yet hit its annual carbon reduction trajectory and the 2030 carbon neutral deadline would be unachievable.

    That could result, they said, in the council turning to expensive carbon offsetting initiatives, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

    David Howes, a Conservative councillor, said the “priority of the carbon neutrality of the council has just literally dropped off a cliff”….

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Wonder if Robin’s attempts to show/educate MP’s the NZ folly could be useful info/ammo for Reform?

    Like

  12. “Reform council to ‘rescind’ climate emergency declaration

    Kent council condemned by opposition parties, which say county is ‘at the forefront of climate impacts’”

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/11/reform-council-motions-to-rescind-climate-emergency-declaration

    Plans by Reform UK to “rescind” the declaration of a climate emergency at one of the English county councils it now controls have been condemned by opposition parties.

    Hundreds of local authorities across Britain have made the declarations, which serve as acknowledgments that they need to act on the causes and impacts of climate change and are linked to efforts to achieve net zero targets.…

    …Stuart Jeffery, a Green party councillor, said: “Kent is at the forefront of climate impacts. We are severely water stressed, we will suffer most from summer heatwaves, the sea level rises will devastate communities and we will have new diseases such as dengue to contend with. This is most definitely an emergency.”

    Quite apart from the dubious nature of those claims, I would invite Stuart Jeffery to explain – with fully costed and peer-reviewed science – how Kent Council declaring or not declaring a climate emergency, having or not having net zero targets, can make the slightest difference to his perceived climate crisis in Kent.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. “Reform climate motion sparks opposition anger”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgyz397kd1o

    …Alister Brady, who leads the KCC Labour group, said: “The short answer to their incoherent motion and policy is that it flies in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus.

    “Our county is already experiencing hotter summers, wetter winters, and increased flooding. Kent has one of the highest numbers of properties at risk of flooding in the UK.”

    I would urge Mr Brady to explain how Kent’s declaration of a climate emergency can affect any part of that list of weather (not climate) issues.

    Given the incoherence of the opposition anger, I would repeat the comments in the final paragraph of my last comment on this thread.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. “Council rescinds climate change emergency declaration”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jq4l8dpxlo

    Kent County Council has rescinded its declaration of a climate emergency.

    The motion was proposed by Reform UK members after the party took control in May’s local elections.

    Protesters from both sides of the debate gathered outside County Hall in Maidstone on Thursday, leading to a short confrontation between members of the two groups.

    The motion, which was passed by 50 votes to 21, with three abstentions, means the council will no longer have to consider net zero ambitions when making decisions….

    ...Sarah Waite-Gleave, who was protesting the move, said: “We are getting more floods, the Kent Resilience forum are asking all towns to have plans in place to protect people from extreme weather conditions, which are made more frequent by climate change.

    “To deny we need that sort of resilience for our communities is completely daft.”...

    Which rather seems to me to miss the point. Sarah Waite-Gleave seems to want to prioritise resilience for communities, which is fine, but I can’t understand why she things that is rendered less likely by rescinding a climate emergency declaration, not least since if the Council no longer needs to consider net zero when making decisions, that ought to mean it has more money to spend on things like…I dunno… resilience.

    …The motion said the declaration “has had no discernible effect on the world’s climate” and the resulting policies have been “to the detriment of small, local suppliers” and “scared numerous young people”.…

    Seems fair enough to me.

    ...Antony Hook, the leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, told BBC Radio Kent: “I think it’s political vandalism from Reform.

    “Ask any farmer in Kent and they’ll tell you their crop yields are going down because of the very hot weather and droughts. We’ve had wildfires and flash flooding.

    “Their climate denial motion today really puts Kent at more risk.”…

    Who’s the denier here? It seems to me that by denying the futility of the declaration in dealing with the things he’s complaining about, it’s Mr Hook who’s in denial.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.