The long-running row over fracking in the UK is back on the political stage.
Reform UK has declared that if it comes to power, one of its first moves will be to lift the ban on the controversial practice.
Party leaders argue it’s financially reckless to leave vast amounts of energy sitting unused underground, even as critics push for Britain to double down on renewable energy instead.
Reform UK’s Pitch: “Drill, Baby, Drill”
Deputy leader Richard Tice has been vocal about the party’s energy stance, saying Britain is sitting on “hundreds of billions of pounds’ worth” of shale gas that could ease the energy crisis.
To leave it untouched, he argued, would be “grossly financially negligent to a criminal degree.”
Reform has already been in talks with oil and gas companies, encouraging them to prepare new licence applications well ahead of the next general election.
Tice even used the phrase “drill, baby, drill” to signal the party’s commitment to restarting fracking on a large scale.
How We Got Here: From Boom to Ban
Fracking — a method of extracting gas or oil from shale rock — has had a rollercoaster history in Britain.
It was used on a small scale for decades, but when attempts were made to expand it in the 2010s, the industry faced fierce protests, legal challenges, and mounting concerns about earthquakes.
Back in 2019, Boris Johnson’s government banned fracking altogether after tremors were reported at a Lancashire site.
The ban was briefly lifted by Liz Truss, but pushback from Conservative MPs was one factor that sped up her downfall.
Her successor, Rishi Sunak, quickly reinstated the block.
Labour’s Hardline Position
The Labour Party has taken an even tougher line, promising to “ban fracking for good.”
Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband approved plans to fill in the last remaining wells in Lancashire with cement.
For Labour, the focus is firmly on renewables, with a pledge to turn Britain into a clean-energy leader by 2030.
Energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh reinforced this stance, saying: “The biggest risk to our energy security is staying dependent on fossil-fuel markets.
Only by sprinting to clean power can the UK take back control of energy and protect consumers from spiralling costs.”
The Lincolnshire Gas Find
Fueling the debate is a new discovery: a natural gas field beneath Lincolnshire, which one company claims could supply the country’s energy needs for seven years and inject billions into the economy.
Reform UK sees this as proof that the UK is wasting a golden opportunity by sticking with the ban.
Local Reform figures, including Greater Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns, have already met with the energy firm pushing to exploit the find near Gainsborough.
Reform’s Plan If Elected
If Reform UK wins office, Tice says the party would lift the fracking ban immediately.
The strategy would be to work with companies at “independently monitored sites,” to both confirm how much gas is available and to reassure the public that operations can be carried out safely.
Unlike subsidies for renewables, Reform insists it would not pour taxpayer money into fracking.
Instead, the party plans to “create an attractive regulatory and tax framework” to lure investment.
What’s Next?
For now, the battle lines are clear: Labour wants to shut the door on fracking forever, while Reform UK is betting big on a shale gas revival.
With the next general election still several years away, the future of fracking in Britain may hinge on which vision voters believe will best protect their wallets — and the planet.
