Did Hydrogen Lose Labour The Runcorn And Helsby By-Election
I used to work in the Castner-Kellner works at ICI Runcorn, where hydrogen is produced using electrolysis in the Castner-Kellner process.
That process used a lot of mercury and wasn’t good for the health of the workforce. One of my jobs was to develop instruments to detect mercury in air, blood and urine.
I believe the mercury-based process to produce chlorine, with the hydrogen as a by-product has now been replaced with a membrane-based mercury-free process.
Consider.
- The same plant still produces a large proportion of the hydrogen we use in the UK.
- The Runcorn plant is now owned by INEOS, which in turn is owned by tax-exile and Brexiteer ; Jim Ratcliffe.
- I doubt, Mr. Ratcliffe is a supporter of the Labour Party.
- The big promoters of hydrogen are the Bamfords and their companies ; JCB, Ryse and Wrightbus, who are not considered companies that Labour would support.
- Although, Wrightbus seem to have had some political support lately.
- Google AI can’t find any details on Reform UK’s or Nigel Farage’s views on hydrogen.
- Ed Miliband hasn’t shown himself to be very knowledgeable about hydrogen.
- This article on the BBC is entitled Ellesmere Port Hydrogen Heating Trial Scrapped After Protests.
It strikes me, that if one candidate had got a grip on the hydrogen issue, then there would have been a different result in the by-election.
The Anonymous Widower 