Reform UK declares war on Lincolnshire's net-zero projects
A number of what are termed "nationally significant infrastructure projects" are planned for the county, including large-scale solar farms and a corridor of pylons between Grimsby and Walpole, in Norfolk.The fate of such projects will be decided by ministers, not by local councils.
Tice told the conference their LORE campaign (Lincolnshire opposes renewable eyesores) would use "every lever available" to stop these developments. He also claimed the government's net-zero plans were to blame for high electricity prices in the UK.The government said energy bills had risen because of the country's "reliance on volatile gas markets".During the conference, Dame Andrea compared the fight against green energy to that of Bomber Command, which was based in the county during World War Two.She said she wanted to "unleash the spirit of Lincolnshire" against "the planned desecration of our countryside".The mayor said: "We are the bread basket that feeds Britain, so I ask why would any government put out nation's food security in jeopardy because of mass-scale solar farms?"
The government has said brownfield sites and lower-grade land should be preferred for solar farms and "even in the most ambitious scenarios" the total area used would occupy up to 0.4% of UK land by 2030.However, Jenkyns claimed net-zero was "a con" and argued that oil and gas were the answer to the UK's energy needs.Echoing the words of US president Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, she said "come 2029", when Reform UK hopes to win a general election, it would be "drill baby drill".Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said Reform's decision to "pit themselves" against a sector which currently employed about 12,500 people in Greater Lincolnshire – "and risking their jobs" – was "completely at odds" with the role of a directly elected mayor, which was to "improve economic growth for their local areas".A spokesperson for the government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "Families have seen their energy bills go through the roof due to our reliance on volatile gas markets controlled by dictators like Putin."Solar and an upgraded grid is central to our mission to become a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security so we can get bills down for good."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Tech Secretary Peter Kyle won't apologise for what he said about Nigel Farage - 'it's true'
The Tech Secretary refused to apologise for saying Farage's opposition to new online safety rules puts him on the side of predators - suggesting Reform UK are "wilfully misleading" the public about what the new rules do Tech Secretary Peter Kyle has doubled-down on his attack on Nigel Farage, saying the Reform UK leader's opposition to a new online safety crackdown puts him 'on the side of predators.' Writing for the Sunday Mirror, Mr Kyle said he'd never apologise for the remark, made earlier this week, 'Because it's true.' And he revealed how the new law was already being used to prosecute online offenders. New online safety protections for children came into force on July 25. Since that date, so-called "risky" sites and apps have been expected to use age checks to identify which users are children and subsequently prevent them from accessing pornography, as well as other harmful content including self-harm, suicide, eating disorders and extreme violence. Farage's Reform UK party has vowed to scrap Online Safety Act if it ever gains power, claiming it was a threat to free speech. And Farage has said Kyle's comments about him were 'absolutely appalling'. Mr Kyle highlighted two cases where the new law had been used to prosecute and jail online offenders. Last year, Nicholas Hawkes, 39, sent explicit photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl. He was convicted under the new offence of cyber-flashing and sentenced to 66 weeks in prison. And Tyler Webb, 22, was the first to be charged with encouraging serious self-harm under the new act - and was sentenced to nine years and four months. Webb used the messaging app Telegram to repeatedly tell a vulnerable 22-year-old woman to cut herself, then to kill herself by hanging during a video call so she could watch. 'Let me be clear about what the Act does not do,' Mr Kyle wrote. 'It does not stop adults from posting or seeing anything online as long as it's legal and anyone who suggests that does not understand it or is willfully misleading.' He added: 'For years we fought for a safer internet for our children. I refuse to let anyone who is trying to use this issue for their own ends take that away.' 'I won't apologise, because it's true' Earlier this week Nigel Farage asked me to apologise for saying he was on the side of predators when he called for the Online Safety Act to be scrapped. But I won't do that. Because it's true. Under this law a 39 year old man was prosecuted for the new offence of cyber flashing because he sent a photo of his erect penis to a 15-year-old girl. These new categories of crimes are sadly necessary to combat crime in the modern world. But beyond these crimes the law takes steps to make the internet a safer place for children. If you're a parent, ask yourself this - do I want my child to see graphic violence and sexual content? Do I want kids as young as five to see porn on social media? Do I want strangers to be able to message my children - or anyone else's? And do I want them to be able to see my child's location when they're online? This is what the act does - it stops children from seeing things that they should not see - and that we would not want them to in the offline world - porn, extreme violence, suicide and self harm content, images and words that encourage and glorify eating disorders. But as well as blocking disturbing and upsetting images and messages from children's feeds, it also cracks down on child sex abuse images and videos. For the first time social media platforms have to detect and remove that horrific material which has shamefully lurked on the internet barely hidden from those sick enough to seek it out. It also means practical steps to protect children from strangers who want to do them harm. It stipulates that children's profiles and locations should be hidden to keep them safe by default. Because no adult should be able to message a child they do not know. And let me be clear about what the Act does not do - It does not stop adults from posting or seeing anything online as long as it's legal and anyone who suggests that does not understand it or is wilfully misleading. In my first week as Secretary of State I met with a group of bereaved families who have known the absolute worst of the internet. Some of those children were encouraged to kill themselves, others were egged on to do dangerous and ultimately fatal challenges and others still do not know exactly what role their child's online role played in their deaths. I have been clear that not only did we collectively fail their children but that I would do what I could to stop such awful deaths in the future. For years we fought for a safer internet for our children. I refuse to let anyone who is trying to use this issue for their own ends take that away. This government has a Plan for Change to keep children safe both online and offline so that they can live happy and fulfilled lives.
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Police clash with protesters as hundreds of far-right supporters and counter-demonstrators confront each other
Police clashed with demonstrators at a far-right protest in as rival groups faced off. Hundreds gathered outside Manchester Piccadilly station in Manchester on Saturday as supporters of far-right group Britain First prepared to march into the city. The rally saw crowds waving Union Jacks and St George's flags as they lined the streets. But they were met by counter-protesters organised by Stand Up To Racism, who staged a demonstration opposite the anti-immigration group. Manchester City Council said Greater Manchester Police had a 'robust operational plan' in place to manage the protests, with a focus on public safety and maintaining order. The council said a number of 'regular' protests are also expected on Saturday, adding some 'may occur across multiple locations in the city centre'. MANCHESTER: Protesters clash with police during a far-right protest MANCHESTER: Some demonstrators were arrested by police MANCHESTER: Crowds were meeting outside Manchester Piccadilly railway station before a planned march towards Manchester city centre MANCHESTER: Hundreds gathered in Manchester city centre as far-right demonstrators confronted counter protesters MANCHESTER: Leader of Britain First Paul Golding, pictured, at the Britain First March MANCHESTER: Counter protestors also showed up in Manchester today MANCHESTER: In total, hundreds of people packed Manchester city centre MANCHESTER: A group of protesters are seen holding St George and Union Jack flags MANCHESTER: The far right protesters were confronted with counter-demonstrators Police lined up to separate the two groups during the protest in Manchester Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: 'We respect and facilitate the right to lawful protest. 'As ever, appropriate plans will be put in place with the organisers and local partners to minimise disruption for those who live, work, and visit our city centre.' This is not the only demonstration happening this week. As previously reported, anti-migrant demonstrators faced off against anti-racism counter-protesters this evening outside a hotel on the south coast used to house asylum seekers. Protesters gathered outside the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, Hampshire, on Friday waving flags and calling for the hotel's closure. Anti-migrant demonstrations have taken place across the South of England today, in locations including Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth. All the protests are taking place at locations where the government are housing migrants while their asylum applications are processed. SOUTHSEA: Protesters wave flags as they call for the Royal Beach Hotel to be closed to asylum seekers SOUTHSEA: Anti-migrant demonstrators face off against protesters from Stand Up to Racism outside the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, Hants, this evening, Friday 1st August 2025. SOUTHSEA: Counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth staged an event at the same location 'to show friendship and solidarity with refugees' In Southsea, counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth staged an event at the same location, holding signs reading 'Refugees welcome'. The day of protests on the south coast follows similar recent unrest in Epping, where a series of demonstrations have taken place calling for the closure of The Bell Inn, a hotel used on and off for the last five years as accommodation for asylum seekers. A ring of steel was also erected around The Britannia International Hotel, a luxury four-star lodging in London's Canary Wharf that has been converted to house migrants, following sweeping protests. An Epping-style protest to stop migrants being housed above a town's shops took to the streets on Wednesday in Waterlooville, Hampshire - as thousands of locals warned of 'mayhem' if the plans go ahead.
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Migrants blow kisses from hotel window as they film protesters clashing with police on streets below
MIGRANT hotel residents have been spotted laughing while they video protesters and counter-demonstrators clash. People believed to be asylum seekers inside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel, in Islington, waved and blew kisses at protesters in the street below. The protest outside the north London hotel was sparked today, while another demonstration will also take place in Newcastle outside The New Bridge Hotel. The Metropolitan Police said the display was organised by local residents under the banner "Thistle Barbican needs to go - locals say no". Online groups called Patriots of Britain and Together for the Children have voiced their support for the demonstration. A counter-protest, created by Stand Up To Racism, has also unfolded. On student involved said he wants migrants to "feel safe" in the UK. Pat Prendergast, 21, said: "I want people to feel safe. I think the (rival protesters) over there are making people feel unsafe. "I want to stand up in solidarity and say that, you know, we want people here. "We want migrants. We want asylum seekers." Meanwhile people against the hotel being used for migrants shouted "get these scum off our streets", while waving England flags. A large group of masked protesters dressed in black and chanted "we are anti-fascist". A man donning an England football shirt was also arrested by police after an aggressive altercation with officers. There were clashes before cops separate the two groups. Chief Superintendent Clair Haynes, in charge of the policing operation, said: "We have been in discussions with the organisers of both protests in recent days, building on the ongoing engagement between local officers, community groups and partners. "We understand that there are strongly held views on all sides. "Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely, but intervening at the first sign of actions that cross the line into criminality. "We have used our powers under the Public Order Act to put conditions in place to prevent serious disorder and to minimise serious disruption to the lives of people and businesses in the local community. "Those conditions identify two distinct protest areas where the protests must take place, meaning the groups will be separated but still within sight and sound of each other." In a statement, the organisers of the counter protest said: "Yet again far-right and fascist thugs are intent on bringing their message of hate to Newcastle. "They aim to build on years of Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment and scapegoating. "In Epping and elsewhere recently we have already seen intimidation and violence aimed at refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. "Newcastle, like the rest of the North East, has a well-earned reputation for unity in the face of those who seek to divide us. "Whatever problems we face, racism and division are not the answer." is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
