The Future of UK Energy - What happened in the political party conferences? 

In this TalkPower guest blog, Marcus Wells, Senior Public Affairs Manager from the EDF Corporate Affairs team, shares key insights from the recent political party conferences.

EDF’s Corporate Affairs Team were in full attendance across this year’s party conference season, as energy took centre stage in the political arena - we’ve rounded up the key points from each Party Conference. 

Labour, now firmly settled into government, used its platform to try and re-assert its identity as the main contender to Reform, in the wake of some politically difficult weeks for the Prime Minister. 

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, who was introduced to the stage by a Sizewell C worker, framed Clean Power 2030 as both a ‘moral imperative and economic opportunity’ pledging 400,000 new jobs and a “just transition” for North Sea workers. His biggest announcement was the vow to permanently ban fracking. 

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, focused on a radical reset at their Party Conference, that would draw a line in the sand for the party from the record of the last Government. Among the members, she succeeded in projecting an image of unity and authority. 

Energy announcements included a pledge to repeal the Climate Change Act, as well as maximising North Sea extraction, more nuclear power and a reassessment of renewables, including the current AR7 round. This reflected a changing and more sceptical stance to net zero. 

At the Liberal Democrat Conference members voted in favour of adopting a new policy of supporting Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), a change from previous nuclear positioning. Their energy platform aligned their net zero target with the government's 2050 timelines but pushed further for ambitious reforms. Proposals included an Energy Security Bank, decoupling electricity prices from gas and expanding grid capacity. 

Meanwhile Reform UK used its largest-ever conference to reinforce its position as the anti-net zero party. Delegates voted to repeal the Climate Change Act and abolish the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The party pledged to scrap clean energy subsidies, halt battery storage development, and fast-track fossil fuel extraction, including fracking and coal mining, as essential to restoring energy sovereignty and lowering bills. 

Across the political spectrum energy remains a central topic of debate, particularly in how it is communicated to the public amid persistently high bills. While all major political parties acknowledge the critical role of the energy system in ensuring energy security and driving economic growth, their strategies for achieving these goals vary significantly. 

EDF participated in multiple conferences to engage with key stakeholders and share our perspectives on energy security, affordability and the role of nuclear. We hosted panel discussions on unlocking the UK’s homegrown energy potential and spoke at events focused on the Welsh economy and coastal communities. 

Our engagement spans all major parties. Attendance at party conferences is just one part of our broader strategy, as we maintain strong, cross-party relationships and ensure that EDF remains a trusted voice in energy policy; regardless of political leadership. 

Keep an eye out for more insights on our TalkPower page - following the UN Climate Change Conference COP30.