Nigel Farage and Lord Offord accused of plan to rip up Central Belt with fracking

Scottish Liberal Democrats have pledged to fight any attempt by Nigel Farage, Lord Malcolm Offord and Reform UK to start fracking in Scotland, warning that the proposals could damage the countryside and would be opposed by local communities.

On 25 August, Reform UK announced plans to allow fracking elsewhere in the UK, the party has urged energy companies to begin preparations and Richard Tice endorsed fracking at an event in Aberdeen while seated next to Lord Offord. Powers to license fracking in Scotland have been devolved to the Scottish Government since 2018.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' manifesto commits to "oppose fracking and any attempt to open up a whole new front of shale gas fossil fuels in Scotland".

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Scotland has made its opposition to fracking crystal clear. Local people do not want to see our beautiful countryside torn up for a failed experiment that has caused earthquakes and pollution elsewhere. Yet Nigel Farage and presumably Lord Malcolm Offord are determined to ignore the evidence and gamble with the safety of our communities.

"People deserve to know about Reform UK's plans to drill under homes and countryside right across the Central Belt.

“Let me be clear, the Scottish Liberal Democrats will fight any attempt to introduce fracking in Scotland. We will oppose it in our communities, in the Scottish Parliament and in every corner of this country.

“It would be a step backwards when investment should focus on renewables, home insulation and creating good green jobs.

“The choice is stark. A vote for Farage and Reform UK risks tearing up our countryside and dragging Scotland backwards. A vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot is a vote for change with fairness at its heart and to help you with the cost of living, insulating cold homes and using Scottish renewable energy to drive down household bills."