What Reform's net zero fight could mean for Southport
PLUS: Sefton Council leader survives rebellion from fellow Labour councillor
Hello and welcome to the 34th edition of The Southport Lead.
Today’s newsletter focuses on the issue of renewable energy and net zero - after Reform enjoyed success in the local elections that even senior party figures didn’t expect, this was as a key focus almost immediately.
While most parties are looking at ways to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, Reform’s argument is the opposite - efforts to find alternative should be blocked and fought according to deputy leader Richard Tice.
With the party targeting electoral success in Sefton, what would this mean for Southport? Our main story focuses on exactly that.
Also in today’s edition is the latest on an attempt from a Labour councillor to replace the Sefton Council leader and paying subscribers can enjoy Andrew Brown’s What’s On guide to the week ahead.
Net zero debate raises economical, environmental and political arguments in Southport
By Jamie Lopez
Alarm bells have been raised over Reform UK’s plans to target net zero policies and renewable energy developments amid fears it could cost Southport hundreds of jobs and cut tens of millions of pounds from the local economy.
When Reform enjoyed success in the local elections, it was unclear what would follow. Its campaigning had largely focused on cutting waste across councils which had already seen budgets slashed over the previous decade.
The first week saw the focus turn elsewhere. First, a confected row over flags when the national party announced its local councils would ban anything other than the Union Flag and the St George’s flag being flown above its county halls.
A quick concession followed when it was pointed out this would ban county flags and similar is likely to follow when issues such as Armed Forces Day flags are considered.
After that, a key figure within the party announced an aggressive approach towards countering net zero. Richard Tice, the ex-party chairman, current deputy leader and Boston and Skegness MP, said its new council leaders would block, hinder and obstruct climate infrastructure including solar farms, pylons and battery storage systems.
Tice said: “We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct, we will put every hurdle in your way. It’s going to cost you a fortune, and you’re not going to win. So give up and go away.”
As reported in The Southport Lead, Reform UK is making moves in next year’s Sefton Council elections when boundary changes mean that every single seat will be up for contention for the first time in two decades. Reform hopes to achieve greater success than the existing opposition parties by making gains in areas of the borough away from Sefton which are almost entirely occupied by Labour councillors.
But analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says that net zero jobs are worth £47m of added value to Southport’s wider economy and account for 632 jobs (2.1% of total jobs).
These figures are disputed by Reform’s Southport spokesperson Andrew Lynn, who stood as a General Election candidate last year and argued the ECIU’s makeup should bring a “degree of skepticisim” to its conclusion. He pointed to its own recognition of being supported by the European Climate Foundation and its advisory board including two Labour MPs and a former Labour peer as evidence of this.
But the party’s hostile attitude to renewable energy and climate change policies has attracted concern from local politicians. Southport MP Patrick Hurley was deeply critical of Reform’s response to climate change concerns and the potential impact it could have here in Merseyside.
He said: “The Reform Party is threatening to block new industrial investment in the Southport area. Independent analysis shows that the transition to clean energy - reducing our reliance on Russian gas - is worth £47 million to Southport. These are the growth industries of the future, and we must ensure that the North West, and Southport in particular, secures its fair share.
“Unfortunately, the Reform Party is once again doing what it does best: opposing everything for the sake of opposition. They seem to want the world to stand still so they can get off. Well, here’s the message for Reform - I won’t let them drag us backwards while the rest of the country moves forward.
“They’re not acting in the best interests of Southport. They're exploiting people’s concerns about the future as a route to political office. Southport deserves better - and we’ll work together to make sure our best days are still to come.”
In response to this, Mr Lynn said the MP should “focus his energy on the real concerns of Southport residents, rather than attaching himself to fashionable metropolitan causes like Net Zero that have little or no relevance to the lives and livelihoods of his constituents, and will in all likelihood only increase their cost of living”.
Criticism of Reform’s net zero scepticism has largely been cross party, something which may add to the “anti-establishment” attitude which has been a key part of its electoral success.
While YouGov data suggests the public largely backs the government’s net zero targets (61% support compared to 24% oppose), related issues such as installing wind turbines and encouraging active travel through cycle lanes often provoke strong reactions from the public.
But some also feel efforts to address climate change should be going further, with suggestions including encouraging councils to make solar panels on new council homes mandatory.
Mike Sammon is a Liberal Democrat representative on Sefton Council and a heat pump engineer who has frequently called on the government to ease restrictions which add delays and costs to those seeking alternative to gas boilers.
He is among those concerned over the possibility of Reform making efforts to block environmental targets and argues Sefton Council, which formally declared a climate emergency in 2019, should instead be doing more to address the issue.
He told The Southport Lead: “Reform’s attitude to renewable energy and the environment is completely irresponsible and deeply misguided. Rolling back on climate targets will only lead to higher energy bills and worse health outcomes.
“Reform’s only solution seems to be more fossil fuels and more pollution. That is not the future we need to leave to our children to deal with. Delayed action now will mean higher costs later.
“I don’t think Sefton are acting quick enough on the climate as it is. We should be seeing more public electric vehicle charging points, more solar panels on public buildings and the Government should be raising the energy efficient standard of new build homes.
“If we don’t build the homes we need fit for the future now then people will have to retrofit them later with renewable energy technology, likely at far greater cost than if it was fitted new. The only way back to low energy bills is through renewable energy.”
Mr Lynn launched an appeal for potential Reform candidates to come forward for the next elections last week and told The Southport Lead that the party is committed to “cleaner energy from new technology” and would fast-track clean nuclear energy with new, British-built Small Modular Reactors and incentivise “ethical UK lithium mining for electric batteries, combined cycle gas turbines, clean synthetic fuel, tidal power, and clean coal mining. Any necessary CO2 reductions can be implemented through these measures.”
“However,” he continued “net zero lunacy, written into law by the Conservatives and followed up by Labour, has led to some of the highest industrial energy prices in the world, devastating British industry and increasing bills for working people.
“Reform will reindustrialise Britain and ensure we become self-sufficient in oil and gas. We would scrap annual £10 billion of renewable energy subsidies, which make renewable energy barons rich at great cost to ordinary people. Ditching Net Zero could save the public sector over £30 billion per year for the next 25 years.
“Our local Southport branch leadership is currently meeting with local Southport businesspeople, community organisations and residents in order to develop local policies, in accordance with these goals, that will revive Southport after many years of neglect under the Labour administration in Sefton.”
He added: “Reform UK, if it were to attain control of Sefton Council, would bring in the auditors to ensure an end to waste and corruption in the council. We would do everything in our power to revive Southport as a pre-eminent leisure and tourist destination in the North of England, and make sure that Southport council-taxpayers’ money is, as far as possible, spent in Southport reviving Southport and supporting its residents, as a priority over fashionable causes of the metropolitan establishment such as net zero.”
Sefton Council leader survives rebellion to maintain control
By Elliot Jessott
Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson has faced down a rebellion within her own party and clung on to power after a little more than a year in charge.
The LDRS reported ahead of the Labour group annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday that Sudell ward councillor James Hansen had submitted a formal application to become the next leader of the authority’s Labour group.
This initiated a process where Labour councillors had to choose who will lead the party into the next local elections.
Cllr Atkinson became Sefton’s first female leader when she was elected in January 2024, and has been the only female council chief in the Liverpool City Region. She has now retained her position by just five votes following a ballot last night.
However, discontent had been brewing over recent weeks and culminated in a leadership contest. The LDRS understands Cllr Hansen’s challenge came about due to concerns raised around the treatment of fellow councillors and a perceived lack of accountability.
However, a source close to the process said some councillors expressed concerns about Cllr Hansen’s own lack of experience and with some suggestion he was not ‘the finished article’.
The AGM met at Bootle Town Hall on Tuesday with sources confirming Cllr Atkinson had held onto the leadership.
There are currently 50 Labour councillors in Sefton and the leadership contenders needed a majority vote to win the contest.
In the end, the LDRS understands Cllr Atkinson won by just five votes after dropping plans to implement a model standing order which would fix the leadership term limit to four years.
Campaigners for Cllr Hansen also complained that the structure of the AGM meant that Cllr Atkinson was allowed to address the chamber detailing the achievements of the last 14 months, the challenges ahead and her intention to drop the model standing order.
An attempt by Cllr Hansen to also address the chamber was refused by the chair of the group, according to a Labour party source. It is thought Cllr Atkinson’s concession over the model standing order was enough to secure the support needed to retain the leadership.
Recommended reading
The Southport Inquiry was launched last month and the first findings are already starting to emerge.
Sky News reports that police have not kept up with the risks posed to the public by social media while The Times focuses on a top cop’s plea for social media firms to show “social responsibility” and remove disinformation more quickly.
Three police officers have been commended for their roles in responding to the attack. LBC is among those to cover the recognition of Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, Constable Luke Holden, and PCSO Timothy Parry.
Elsewhere, Stand Up For Southport’s coverage of the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards continues and this account of the teenager who escorted young girls to safety after being stabbed in the Southport attack is particularly moving.
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What’s on this week
By Andrew Brown
Today’s the day for the Emergency Services Community Day!
Southport Football Club will be the place to be for families, with a whole day of entertainment, crowned by an emergency services friendly match.
It’s among some fantastic events taking place in Southport this week (11th May - 18th May 2025):
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