Nigel Farage has launched a fierce attack on government green energy policies, accusing ministers of “defrauding” British taxpayers through billions in renewable subsidies whilst simultaneously proposing partial nationalisation of water companies.
The Reform UK leader made his controversial claims during an appearance on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, where he argued that Britain’s climate policies were achieving “literally zero effect” on global carbon dioxide levels whilst costing taxpayers billions annually.
Speaking on Sunday morning, Farage outlined ambitious plans to bring 50 per cent of water utilities under state control, with the remaining half to be owned by British pension funds, though he repeatedly declined to provide cost estimates for the proposal.
Climate Scepticism and ‘Fraud’ Claims
When pressed by Kuenssberg on whether he believed in climate change, Farage acknowledged its existence but questioned the scale of human impact. Do I believe there’s climate change? Yes. Does man have an influence? It’s impossible to think we haven’t got some influence as to what proportion it is, I’ve no idea,” he stated.
The Reform leader described climate policy as “the religion in Westminster now in a fairly godless age” and claimed it was “absolutely mindless for a country that produces less than one per cent of global CO2 to beggar itself.
He accused the government of defrauding taxpayers, stating: “Is that sufficient reason to defraud British taxpayers of billions of pounds every year, which is what we’re doing, in subsidising wind energy and solar energy for literally zero effect on global CO2 emissions?
Farage warned that current policies threatened Britain’s remaining 2.5 million manufacturing jobs, claiming they “could be gone in the next decade unless we change direction, and that particularly relates to energy policy.
Water Nationalisation Plans
The Reform UK leader’s water industry proposals, outlined in the party’s 2024 manifesto, would see the government acquire a 50 per cent stake in water companies. When questioned about financial implications, Farage insisted the cost would be “a lot less” than the £50 billion figure suggested by government estimates.
“That depends what deal you do with the private sector investors,” Farage argued, adding: “We don’t know what negotiations we’re going to have, but it doesn’t need to be a big sum of money if you incentivise private capital to come in and do the job properly.”
He dismissed official calculations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and water regulator Ofwat, declaring them “part of the problem.”
Government Response
Environment Secretary Steve Reed firmly rejected the nationalisation proposals, warning that full state ownership would require “upwards of £100 billion” and take years to implement.
We’d have to take away from the National Health Service and schools to give to the owners of the companies that are polluting,” Reed stated.
He warned that attempting to unpick the current ownership model would lead to worsening pollution: “If we try to unpick the current model of ownership, it would take years, and during that period, pollution would get worse because the companies wouldn’t invest knowing that they were going to be nationalised.”
Reed emphasised: “So instead of me sitting here telling the public that we’re going to halve sewage pollution over the next five years, I would instead be sitting here saying we’re going to play around with ownership and pollution will get far worse.”
Green Energy Costs Under Scrutiny
Government data reveals that green energy subsidies are currently costing British households approximately £12 billion annually, equating to around £450 per household each year. This includes £2.3 billion for Contracts for Difference subsidies, £7.8 billion for the Renewables Obligation scheme, and £1.86 billion for Feed-in Tariff schemes.
The UK government announced in July 2024 that it was increasing funding for renewable energy auctions to over £1.5 billion—a record budget—with £1.1 billion allocated for offshore wind projects. Additionally, £8.3 billion has been committed to Great British Energy in partnership with the Crown Estate.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has defended the investments, stating they are essential for the government’s mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and protect families from volatile fossil fuel prices.
Manufacturing Concerns
Industrial leaders have warned that UK electricity costs are currently four times higher than in the United States and 46 per cent above the global average, threatening the competitiveness of British manufacturing.
Make UK, which represents manufacturers, has called for urgent action to reduce energy costs, with CEO Stephen Phipson warning: “If we do not address the issue of high industrial energy costs in the UK as a priority, we risk the security of our country.”
The government has responded with plans under its new Industrial Strategy to reduce electricity costs by up to 25 per cent for over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses from 2027, through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Climate Record and Emissions
Despite Farage’s claims about Britain’s minimal contribution to global emissions, UK territorial emissions have fallen by 54 per cent since 1990, according to government data. The UK currently produces less than one per cent of global annual CO2 emissions, though historically has contributed approximately three per cent of cumulative global emissions since 1750.
Carbon Brief analysis shows UK emissions fell to their lowest level since 1879 in 2023, dropping to 383 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent—the first time they have fallen below 400 million tonnes since Victorian times.
Political Reactions
Labour accused Farage of having “nothing to offer apart from bluster,” whilst shadow Treasury minister Gareth Davies said he was “flogging billion-pound promises with no plans to deliver them.
The confrontation highlights deepening divisions over Britain’s approach to both climate policy and public ownership of utilities, with Reform UK positioning itself as a critic of mainstream environmental policies whilst paradoxically advocating for increased state intervention in the water sector.
As the debate over energy costs and environmental responsibilities intensifies, Farage’s dual message of opposing green subsidies whilst supporting nationalisation presents a complex political position that challenges traditional left-right divides on economic policy.
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Image Credit:
Official portrait of Nigel Farage – Photo by UK Parliament, licensed under Open Parliament Licence v3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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