Reform UK Voters Favor Solar Farms Over Fracking, Poll Shows Party Stance at Odds with Base

A survey commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and conducted by More in Common asked people planning to vote for Reform UK in the English local elections on 7 May about preferred local energy projects. 435 respondents indicated a solar farm as the best way to generate energy locally, while only 23 percent favoured fracking. Across all voters, three-in-five (60 percent) chose solar, compared with one-in-ten (10 percent) who selected fracking.

Reform UK voters prefer solar farms to fracking, new polling revealsPoll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

Reform UK’s energy spokesperson has repeatedly called for the restart of fracking in areas such as Lincolnshire. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the party’s mayor for Greater Lincolnshire, has contacted an American oil and gas firm following a major gas discovery in the county. In contrast, Reform-led councils in Lancashire and North Yorkshire have publicly opposed fracking projects within their jurisdictions, illustrating a split between national party messaging and local actions.

Reform UK voters prefer solar farms to fracking, new polling reveals

• Solar farms: 60 percent of all local-election voters; 59 percent of Reform voters (previous polling) support solar.

Reform UK voters prefer solar farms to fracking, new polling reveals

• Fracking: 10 percent of all voters; 23 percent of Reform voters support fracking.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• Pylons: 58 percent of the public support construction; 18 percent oppose. Among Reform voters, 46 percent support pylons, 33 percent oppose.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• On-shore wind: 56 percent support among Reform voters; offshore wind: 66 percent.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• Cost of living: identified as the primary issue influencing voting behaviour, with energy-bill pressures ranking highest among individual cost concerns.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

Reform UK’s national leadership continues to promote fracking as a means to boost domestic gas supplies, citing energy security. Local council statements in Lancashire and North Yorkshire, however, reject fracking proposals on environmental grounds. Mayor Jenkyns’ outreach to an American firm reflects the party’s effort to attract investment following the Lincolnshire gas find, despite local opposition elsewhere.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

Alasdair Johnstone of the ECIU highlighted a pronounced divergence between Reform UK’s pro-fracking, anti-solar rhetoric and the preferences of its own voters, who favour quieter solar farms over noisy fracking pads. He also noted that British geology differs markedly from that of the United States, limiting the feasibility of a large-scale fracking push.

Reform UK voters prefer solar farms to fracking, new polling reveals

• “Alasdair Johnstone from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unitsaid: “Reform’s pro-fracking, anti-solar stance appears not only at odds with broad public opinion, but also the opinion of their voters who would prefer a quiet solar farm over a noisy fracking pad in their area.” — Alasdair Johnstone, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• “Public opposition aside, Reform would find it tough to emulate Trump’s pro-fracking push as British geology is very different to that in the US.” — Alasdair Johnstone, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• “Public opposition aside, Reform would find it tough to emulate Trump’s pro-fracking push as British geology is very different to that in the US. Reform voters clearly back renewable energy which is helping to reduce the UK’s dependence on volatile gas markets and foreign imports.” — Alasdair Johnstone, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

• “because they are connecting new renewable energy projects to the grid which themselves create high-skilled jobs for British people” — Poll respondent

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

The poll shows strong voter support for renewable projects despite Reform UK’s national anti-renewable stance. No data were provided on actual fracking activity or on how the party’s leadership plans to reconcile these opposing positions.

Poll – Reform voters choose solar farms over fracking pads

The disparity between party policy and voter preference may shape internal debates within Reform UK ahead of future elections and influence the party’s approach to energy-policy proposals, particularly regarding fracking licences and renewable-energy infrastructure.

Reform UK voters prefer solar farms to fracking, new polling reveals