'Nigel Farage's Patronising Coal Mine Fantasy Says a Lot About What He Really Thinks of Working People'
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Nigel Farage has announced plans - or rather, vague hopes - to reopen shuttered coal mines in Wales. It is an unusual stance from a millionaire supporter of Margaret Thatcher.
In a speech today, the Reform UK leader will propose reopening coal mines in Wales to revive British steel-making at Port Talbot, where the coal-powered blast furnace shut in October 2024.
The move from Tata Steel brought an end to the highly intensive and polluting method of steelmaking in south Wales. It was part of a restructure leading to the loss of around 2,800 jobs.
Now in a bid to boost support ahead of Wales' Senedd elections next May, Farage is proposing reviving coal mining and reopening the blast furnace - a proposal likely to cost billions if it is even possible. Reform is currently polling second to Welsh independence backers Plaid Cymru, followed by Labour which has governed in Wales since devolution began at the turn of the millennium.
The plan would involve mining coking coal from nearby pits in south Wales to power old blast furnaces, ostensibly as a "cheaper" alternative to electric furnaces. But former blast furnaces are extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to restart.
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Port Talbot previously imported its coal from as far as Australia before closing. Reform sources told the Mail it was as a "long-term" plan, acknowledging it "won't be quick nor easy".
But The Times reports the proposals are to present Reform as "a credible party of Government" and an attempt to win over working-class voters from Labour.
Only last month a note from Britain's largest miners' gathering, the Durham Miners' Gala, included a quote from Farage saying: "I supported Margaret Thatcher. She was right.. [Pit closures] may have caused a little pain for some, but it had to happen."
The General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association (DMA) "launched a scathing attack on Reform UK, saying that the party will "never" be invited to the historic event, and that he would boycott the event if they were asked to attend," LBC reported.
It is not clear who the real audience is for Reform's coal nostalgia.
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For digital and print editions, packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, features, and columns….
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Nigel Farage has announced plans - or rather, vague hopes - to reopen shuttered coal mines in Wales. It is an unusual stance from a millionaire supporter of Margaret Thatcher.
In a speech today, the Reform UK leader will propose reopening coal mines in Wales to revive British steel-making at Port Talbot, where the coal-powered blast furnace shut in October 2024.
The move from Tata Steel brought an end to the highly intensive and polluting method of steelmaking in south Wales. It was part of a restructure leading to the loss of around 2,800 jobs.
Now in a bid to boost support ahead of Wales' Senedd elections next May, Farage is proposing reviving coal mining and reopening the blast furnace - a proposal likely to cost billions if it is even possible. Reform is currently polling second to Welsh independence backers Plaid Cymru, followed by Labour which has governed in Wales since devolution began at the turn of the millennium.
The plan would involve mining coking coal from nearby pits in south Wales to power old blast furnaces, ostensibly as a "cheaper" alternative to electric furnaces. But former blast furnaces are extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to restart.
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Port Talbot previously imported its coal from as far as Australia before closing. Reform sources told the Mail it was as a "long-term" plan, acknowledging it "won't be quick nor easy".
But The Times reports the proposals are to present Reform as "a credible party of Government" and an attempt to win over working-class voters from Labour.
Only last month a note from Britain's largest miners' gathering, the Durham Miners' Gala, included a quote from Farage saying: "I supported Margaret Thatcher. She was right.. [Pit closures] may have caused a little pain for some, but it had to happen."
The General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association (DMA) "launched a scathing attack on Reform UK, saying that the party will "never" be invited to the historic event, and that he would boycott the event if they were asked to attend," LBC reported.
It is not clear who the real audience is for Reform's coal nostalgia.
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Speaking to Byline Times,
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