2 min read
As Reform UK gets ready to kick off the party conference season next weekend, energy leaders can't afford to ignore its influence anymore.
Next week sees both the Scottish and UK parliaments return from recess just ahead of Reform’s conference kick-off on September 5th. For the first time, many energy company leaders are sitting up to the need to seriously consider Reform as part of their stakeholder engagement strategy.
The political landscape is shifting
Recent polling from the David Hume Institute shows a remarkable shift in Scottish political priorities. Immigration has jumped from just 4% of Scots considering it a top issue in May 2023 to 21% today. Reform's signature policy is now resonating north of the border in ways we haven't seen before. With Reform consistently topping UK-wide polls and projections suggesting they could secure more than a dozen seats in next year's Holyrood elections, we're looking at the emergence of a fundamentally different political landscape.
Why this matters for energy
Reform's energy agenda is unambiguous: scrap net zero, end renewable subsidies, lift the fracking moratorium, and prioritise fossil fuel extraction. They've explicitly warned energy investors to "think twice" about renewables projects. When we see what happened to Ørsted's Rhode Island wind project this week – halted at 80% completion by the Trump administration, wiping billions off their market value – we get a stark reminder that political hostility toward renewables by those in power can have immediate, devastating consequences.
The City is already engaging (quietly)
As Politico recently revealed, senior figures in banks and asset managers are already having private conversations with Reform representatives, despite a "taboo" around being seen to engage publicly. The financial sector understands that ignoring a party topping the polls isn't an option – even when that party's policies directly threaten their investments.
The Scottish dimension
Graham Simpson MSP’s decision to defect this week from the Scottish Conservatives to Reform is unlikely to be the party’s last inroad at Holyrood. Scotland's next Parliament is set to be more fragmented than ever, with proportional representation potentially giving smaller parties significant influence. Whether Reform forms part of government or sits in opposition, they'll be positioned to directly influence energy policy through budget negotiations, legislation, and committee scrutiny. In a system where horse-trading is baked-in, every voice matters.
What this means for your public affairs strategy
The ground is shifting. Cross-party engagement isn't just best practice anymore – it's essential for protecting your investments and shaping policy outcomes. Companies that dismiss Reform because they disagree with their policies or think there’s an outside chance they’ll matter are making a strategic error. If you're concerned about these policies potentially becoming reality, you need to engage, build relationships, showcase project value and create opportunities for dialogue.
And the time to do it is now. The next 90 days will set the tone for political engagement across the spectrum. The companies that perform best in this complex, shifting environment are those that have their public affairs strategy in shape, with the right connections and influence-mapping to navigate what’s coming.
Getting ready for what's next
At Aspect, we help organisations understand exactly who they need to be talking to and how to build those crucial relationships. Because in politics, as in business, relationships matter – especially when the stakes are this high.
Get in touch for a half-hour conversation or a structured session with your team.
The new political season starts next week. Are you match ready?