NIGEL Farage today vowed to defy Labour’s Net Zero orders and open new coal mines in Wales.
The Reform chief declared he’s ready to “fight” Sir Keir Starmer to achieve his “ambition to re-industrialise” the country, if he wins power in the Senedd next year.
In Port Talbot, Mr Farage said he wants to revive the town’s steel blast furnaces and use fuel from new coal mines to power them.
Net Zero zealot Ed Miliband announced a ban on new coal mining licenses in November last year.
But firing the starting gun on Reform’s 11-month campaign for the Welsh parliament, Mr Farage argued that Labour’s Westminster government wouldn’t stop him in Cardiff.
The chief Brexiteer said: “We can always have a fight, can’t we?
“We can always have a fight and who knows, there may be situations where we just do things.
“We will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”
In a bid to woo the Welsh and outflank Sir Keir from the traditional left, Mr Farage argued there are “specific types of coal for certain uses that we still need in this country”.
The Reform leader blasted Labour for turning their nose up at local industry while continuing to import steel from abroad.
Mr Farage insisted his party can win the Senedd elections in May 2026 because Labour are “really are failing in Wales”.
Having been in control of the Welsh parliament since its 1999 inception, the Reform boss said Sir Keir’s party has “nowhere to hide”.
YouGov’s most recent polling of the Senedd, from last month, puts nationalist Plaid Cymru on 30 per cent, with Reform five points behind on 25.
Meanwhile, Labour has slumped to just 18 per cent, with only 40 per cent of those who voted for Sir Keir looking to do the same again.
Mr Farage said his party is “rapidly” growing in Wales – but is still a “work in progress” and doesn’t yet have a candidate for the top job of First Minister.
The party leader added: “Figures will emerge over the course of the next few months who through merit will no doubt be in a position where they can qualify to be our lead member.
“We are not at that point of evolution just yet.”
