Richard Tice has told GB News Britons have been “deeply misled over misinformation” about fracking just hours after Reform pledged to “reindustrialise Britain”.
As part of that bid, Reform UK’s business, trade and energy spokesman told Jacob Rees-Mogg part of their goal will come from cutting energy costs.
Earlier today, the MP set out Reform UK’s “business, trade and energy super department”, which is set to cover housing as well.
He vowed to ditch Net Zero “madness” and cut energy costs – and part of this will be sourced from fracking.
“Fracking is a perfectly safe process,” the GB News host said. “It actually already goes on in this country. It’s just not allowed at certain depths.”
Speaking on GB News, Mr Tice said: “We want cheap energy. That’s what makes a rich nation.
He added: “We’ve all been deeply misled by misinformation. But we know that shale gas is what has actually driven low gas prices, low energy prices, high growth, and made Americans much more prosperous.
“We need to embrace it.
Richard Tice said Britons have been ‘deeply misled’
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GB NEWS
“And let’s be patriotic and say, I want Lincolnshire gas for Lincolnshire, jobs for Lincolnshire growth. I want Yorkshire Gas for Yorkshire jobs and Yorkshire growth. This is our patriotic duty to our children and our grandchildren.”
Mr Tice echoed the words which he delivered earlier today in a steel stockholding business in Dudley in the West Midlands.
There, he said: “We all know that to be a rich nation, you have to have cheap, plentiful energy. It’s as simple as that.”
He said he would use “energy treasure from under our feet” to cut bills and soothe the impact of the cost of living on Britons across the nation.
Richard Tice gave his first speech as Reform’s business, trade and energy spokesman
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GB NEWS
However, his plans have already received a slew of criticism.
In response, director of the Conservative Environment Network John Flesher said: “Claiming that it is our patriotic duty to permit fracking in Lincolnshire is farcical.
“Even if the ban on fracking were lifted, there remain significant obstacles in the form of massive community opposition and a lack of investor confidence.
“And even if fracking does commence, it would do nothing to cut Britain’s scandalously high energy bills. Fracking is a distraction from the real problems our country faces.”
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth’s head of policy Mike Childs urged Reform to back the UK’s “vast homegrown renewable power – alongside a nationwide programme of home insulation, which would deliver real energy security”.
Mr Childs added: “Solar and onshore wind are now far cheaper than new gas or nuclear, cutting bills as well as emissions.
“The only winners from rolling back climate action are polluters, billionaires and the vested interests cashing in on fossil fuels.
“Everyone else is left to foot the bill.”