Fossil fuels, heavy industry and 'Judeo-Christian values' will save Britain, says Farage

Nigel Farage yesterday called for the "reindustrialisation" of Britain and a "180-degree shift" to reverse the declining birthrate, as he praised the "Judeo-Christian culture" that he claimed has upheld western civilisation.

- Eleni Courea

Addressing a global gathering of rightwing activists in London, the Reform leader said the UK should rebuild its heavy industry, including through the domestic production of steel, oil and gas.

He said the country needed to reverse the decline in birthrates, including by an acknowledgment that "what underpins everything is our Judeo-Christian culture".

Farage has come under fire for invoking the "Judeo-Christian" tradition in the past. On the campaign trail last summer, he claimed such values were at the root of "everything" in Britain.

Yesterday he was addressing the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (Arc) conference, a gathering of conservative thinkers, politicians and businesspeople from dozens of countries. Its backers include Paul Marshall, one of the owners of GB News, and Legatum, a private investment company.

Farage told the meeting that his party's platform was "to reindustrialise Britain".