Lib Dems to ‘fight any attempt’ by Reform to bring in fracking in Scotland

Scottish Liberal Democrats have vowed to “fight any attempt” by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to introduce fracking in Scotland.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton made clear his opposition to the practice, warning if allowed it could see “our beautiful countryside torn up for a failed experiment that has caused earthquakes and pollution elsewhere”.

With powers to licence fracking having been devolved to the Scottish Government, he raised concerns Reform UK could push for the controversial practice.

The party’s deputy leader Richard Tice said last year the UK has “potentially hundreds of billions of energy treasure in the form of shale gas”, insisting it would be “grossly financially negligent to a criminal degree to leave that value underground and not to extract it”.

While Mr Cole-Hamilton said that “Scotland has made its opposition to fracking crystal clear” and raised concerns that “Nigel Farage and presumably Lord Malcolm Offord are determined to ignore the evidence and gamble with the safety of our communities”.

With the prospect of drilling in parts of central Scotland, the Lib Dem added: “People deserve to know about Reform UK’s plans to drill under homes and countryside right across the central belt.”

He went on to state: “Let me be clear, the Scottish Liberal Democrats will fight any attempt to introduce fracking in Scotland.

“We will oppose it in our communities, in the Scottish Parliament and in every corner of this country.

“It would be a step backwards when investment should focus on renewables, home insulation and creating good green jobs.”

Speaking out on the issue ahead of Thursday’s Holyrood election, Mr Cole-Hamilton said the choice for voters was “stark”, adding: “A vote for Farage and Reform UK risks tearing up our countryside and dragging

Scotland backwards.

“A vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot is a vote for change with fairness at its heart and to help you with the cost of living, insulating cold homes and using Scottish renewable energy to drive down household bills.”