Middle East Energy Crisis Shows Why Reform Shouldn’t Be Anywhere Near Power
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched a fierce attack on Reform’s energy policy after a fresh Middle East crisis sent gas prices soaring, warning that scrapping renewables would leave the UK dangerously exposed to global shocks.
The sharp escalation of conflict in the Gulf this week, including attacks impacting Qatari energy infrastructure, has driven a dramatic spike in wholesale gas prices. European natural gas prices have surged by around 45% in a matter of days. Qatar is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the UK and Europe, meaning any disruption has immediate consequences for British energy bills.
For the Welsh Liberal Democrats, this is proof that doubling down on imported fossil fuels would be a reckless gamble. The party says Reform’s policy of ditching renewable energy targets and slowing investment in clean power would tie the UK even more tightly to volatile international markets and unstable regions.
This is now the second major energy shock in recent years, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which exposed how dangerously dependent the UK and Europe had become on imported gas. Once again, families and businesses are facing the prospect of higher bills because of events thousands of miles away.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats argue that Wales should instead be accelerating investment in offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, expanding tidal and hydro generation, introduce an emergency insulation programme and back community energy projects, reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports from the Middle East and beyond.
They are also calling for urgent reform of the UK electricity market to decouple power prices from gas. Under the current system, electricity prices are often set by the cost of gas generation, even when renewable power is being produced far more cheaply. Breaking that link would allow households to benefit directly from the lower costs of renewables.
Commenting, Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:
“This latest crisis shows exactly why Reform should not be anywhere near power. Their plan to scrap renewables and keep Britain and Wales hooked on imported fossil fuels would leave families permanently at the mercy of wars and instability abroad.
“We saw it after Russia invaded Ukraine, and we are seeing it again now as conflict in the Gulf sends gas prices soaring. As long as our energy system is tied to volatile global gas markets, household bills will keep rising whenever there is turmoil overseas.
“Wales has the natural resources to power our own future, from offshore wind in the Celtic Sea to hydro and tidal. We should be investing in clean, homegrown energy that brings bills down and strengthens our security.
“If we are serious about protecting families from future crises, we must break the link between electricity prices and gas and accelerate the transition to renewables. Clinging to fossil fuels is not a plan, it’s a liability.”
ENDS