Time to “scrap HS2”, “get fracking” and build on brownfield, says UKIP manifesto

HS2 and renewable energy schemes are unnecessary and unaffordable; investment in fracking and coal power plus a new airport at Manston promised.

Antony Oliver
15 April 2015

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UKIP set out clear manifesto plans this week to scrap the £50bn HS2 rail project and focus energy investment away from renewables and towards fracking and coal power.

Its manifesto “Believe in Britain” also commits to reopening the Manston Airport in Kent as a low cost airline and freight destination and promised planning reforms to boost housing development on brownfield sites.

“It is time to scrap HS2,” says the UKIPO manifesto unambiguously. 

“HS2 is an unaffordable white elephant and, given other, far more pressing calls on public expenditure, such as the NHS, social care and defence"

To read the UKIP manifesto click here

“HS2 is running out of control. UKIP will stop this flawed vanity scheme in its tracks,” it adds. “The estimated cost is already £50 billion and HS2 Ltd is planning to spend over £800M in 2015/2016, before the project even gets the final go-ahead. The Government’s own estimates show the cost will never be recouped.”

“HS2 is an unaffordable white elephant and, given other, far more pressing calls on public expenditure, such as the NHS, social care and defence, not to mention the need to reduce the deficit, it must face the axe.”

In its assessment of future energy policy,  UKIP is equally clear that it is “time to get fracking”.

Investment in renewable energy sources to meet the European climate change commitments is, it says, unaffordable and, other than hydro power proposes to cut all subsidies to “hopelessly inefficient” wind power, solar and reinvest in fracking and coal power which is say can power the nation for “many more years to come”. The 2008 Climate Change Act would be scrapped.

“While our major global competitors - the USA, China, India - are switching to low-cost fossil fuels, we are forced to close perfectly good coal-fired power stations to meet unattainable targets for renewable capacity. If we carry on like this, the lights are likely to go out.”

It adds: “In the interests of energy security alone, the prospect of home-grown shale gas is an enormous opportunity it would be irresponsible to ignore.”

“We firmly believe that part of the solution to address the lack of airport capacity in the South East is to re-open Manston Airport,”

On airport capacity UKIP’s manifesto says that a position on development of Gatwick or Heathrow will be taken after the Davies Commission recommendations are published.

However, UKIP is clear about the need to boost airport capacity in the south east by investing in a re-opened Manston Airport in Kent. 

“We firmly believe that part of the solution to address the lack of airport capacity in the South East is to re-open Manston Airport,” say the manifesto.

“Manston is ideally placed to take low-cost airlines and freight-only aircraft; it is close to the railway network; enjoys good connections to Ashford International; will release additional capacity in the region; and take pressure off other airports.”

UKIP also promises to introduce policies to incentivise the creation of more affordable housing, while protecting rural communities. This includes a commitment to bringing empty properties back into use and a charge on homes left empty for more than two years.

“We will take steps to remove the barriers to brownfield builds with the aim of building one million homes on brownfield sites by 2025 to address the current housing shortage,” it says. 

“We will replace the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and introduce fresh national planning guidelines that will prioritise brownfield sites for new housing and genuinely protect the green belt."

“We see no reason to keep DIFD running as an independent Government department."

Up to 2.5M houses could, it says, be built on brownfield sites, if developers were “less reluctant to take advantage of this rich source of potential housing land”.

To help make this happen, UKIP will require the Environment Agency to compile a National Brownfield Sites Register and provide a remediation assessment where appropriate.

UKIP’s manifesto – claimed fully funded through taxes and saving - also set out plans to abolish a number of government departments including the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Department for International Development (DFID).

“DFID has already shown itself to be wasteful and lacking in focus on aid outcomes, yet its budget has been protected from recent government cuts,” it says . “We see no reason to keep DIFD running as an independent Government department. We will close DFID and merge its essential functions into the Foreign Office, retaining a single Minister for Overseas Development.”

Also target for abolition is Defra’s Waste Resource Action Programme, saving an estimated £15.5M.

“We will replace the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and introduce fresh national planning guidelines that will prioritise brownfield sites for new housing and genuinely protect the green belt."

Departmental savings would, it said, be ploughed int a fund to “contribute to the repair and maintenance of the beautiful and historic Palace of Westminster. The fabric of this building has been neglected and the estimated cost of essential repairs is currently £3 billion.”

Central to UKIP’s policy remains an exit from Europe following a national referendum.

A new policy of Work Visas will be introduced to skilled and key workers based on an Australian-style points based model.

UKIP also state committed opposition to any ‘pay-as you-go’ road charging schemes and vows to outlaw the use of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts within the NHS.

On education, UKIP promises to link new vocational schools and colleges with industry and introduce an option for students to take an apprenticeship qualification instead of four non-core GCSEs.