Reform UK has launched a campaign against net zero developments in rural areas, dealing a significant blow to Ed Miliband. Deputy leader Richard Tice announced that the party will use its newfound control over ten councils to obstruct renewable projects at every turn. The MP for Boston and Skegness plans to pen letters to potential developers involved in Lincolnshire projects following Reform's landmark victories in the local elections on Friday, The Telegraph reports.

He said: "I'm now going to write again to them, saying now that we've won these elections, you need to be under no illusion. This is war. We will wage war against you people and your terrible ideas. If you think that you're going to do this in the county of Lincolnshire, you are going to regret it."

He added: "You're going to waste your money. It's going to be very painful financially, so you might as well take your money and your daft ideas elsewhere.

"Whether it's planning blockages, whether it's judicial reviews, whether it's lawsuits, whether it's health and safety notices, we will use every available legal measure to an extreme way in order to frustrate these people."

Mr Tice said voters had their backing for the party's anti-net zero stance, having "voted in huge numbers to Endorse our stance".

Reform has taken control of eight authorities from the Conservatives, including in Kent and Staffordshire, while also claiming victory in Durham council and taking Doncaster from Labour.

In Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns was elected mayor and the party took control of the county council.

Mr Tice insisted that any new cables in Lincolnshire should be placed underground or "around the Wash offshore", which he claimed would be "the smarter, quicker thing to do".

He also told the outlet of a meeting with senior figures in the National Grid, informing them about the party's plans if it wins the next general election.

This comes after Nigel Farage advised council workers involved in climate change or diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to seek "alternative careers very, very quickly".

He issued similar warnings to local authority employees who believe that "they can go on working from home".

In February, Reform outlined its energy policy, which proposed taxes on the renewables sector and new legislation to prevent new pylons from being built.