Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on Labour's handling of the Lindsey Oil Refinery crisis, claiming ministers have abandoned the facility after merely three weeks due to their "absurd" net zero ideology.
In a statement co-signed by deputy leader Richard Tice and other senior Reform UK figures, Farage condemned what he called "gross negligence" regarding the strategic significance of the UK's fifth-largest refinery.
The party accused Labour of failing to make genuine efforts to preserve the facility, suggesting ministers were pursuing an ideological campaign against oil infrastructure.
"The Government appears to be taking an ideological stance against oil in favour of Net Zero," the Reform UK statement declared, warning that this approach would eliminate nearly 1,000 direct positions and thousands more indirect roles.
The Government has confirmed that the search for a purchaser has failed, with Energy Minister Michael Shanks stating that "no credible offers have been made to purchase the entire refinery and it will be winding down operations".
Workers at the North East Lincolnshire facility were informed yesterday that the sales process had failed to produce any viable proposals for the complete operation.
Shanks expressed deep disappointment with the situation created by the previous owners, offering sympathy to affected workers and their communities.
"We are deeply disappointed with the untenable position in which the owners left Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery," the minister said, urging the owners to "do the decent thing and publicly commit to making a voluntary financial contribution to support workers".
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|Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire
Reform UK has outlined alternative approaches to rescue the facility, with Farage's party asserting that their sources indicate the refinery could achieve profitability under appropriate management and ownership arrangements.
The party suggested exploring joint venture models where public ownership would be combined with private sector operational expertise in a profit-sharing structure.
Reform UK complained that the Official Receiver had refused them access to financial data, though they anticipated this stance might shift following recent developments.
"If Reform were in charge of the Government, we believe this important asset could be saved and nurtured back to profitable growth," the party's statement asserted.
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|Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
Trade union Unite has also demanded immediate government intervention, with general secretary Sharon Graham insisting ministers must abandon their position as passive observers.
The union's general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The Government can’t sit on the sidelines any longer.
"The Lindsey refinery is critical national infrastructure and is essential for the UK’s fuel supply and the health of the regional economy.
"The Government needs to reverse the premature decision to stop buying crude oil and to extend the time to find a viable long-term solution for the site.
"Over a thousand workers rely on the future of the oil refinery, their jobs are now at immediate risk, through no fault of their own.
"If the Government fails to act, then workers at Lindsey and much further afield will rightly feel abandoned by it.
The closure will affect approximately 625 employees whose positions were already under threat following the company's collapse into administration last month.
However, some redundancies have already occurred.
FTI Consulting's special managers, who have been operating the facility during the buyer search, informed staff that additional job cuts were now "inevitable" as the refinery enters its wind-down phase whilst processing remaining crude supplies.
The Government has pledged immediate funding for a comprehensive training programme to help displaced refinery workers acquire skills for employment in the clean energy sector.
"All those directly employed at the refinery are guaranteed jobs over the coming months," Shanks confirmed.
The Official Receiver would also continue pursuing interest in individual assets, including storage, distribution and refining components.
Discussions remain ongoing regarding potential maintenance of some operations at Immingham port, where crude shipments for the plant have traditionally arrived.