A leading sustainable finance body has hit out at Reform UK's proposal to force local government pension schemes to invest in the UK, warning the plan could harm retirement savings and destabilise financial markets. The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) CEO James Aelxander said Richard Tice's plans, which form part of Reform's broader "sovereign wealth fund" agenda, risk creating asset bubbles and delivering lower returns for pensioners at a time when many savers are already facing a retirement income crisis. He went on to say that the proposals "run the risk of distorting markets" and could leave workers worse off, particularly those approaching retirement age who have little time to recover from any shortfall in their pension pot. "This stands to affect workers across the economy, including those now close to leaving employment," Alexander said. The warning adds to growing scrutiny of Reform's economic platform as the party seeks to present itself as a credible force in British politics. Tice's sovereign wealth fund proposal has been pitched as a way of channelling pension capital into domestic investment, but critics argue that mandating where funds are invested cuts across the fiduciary duty pension managers owe to their members. Rather than compelling investment, UKSIF urged policymakers to focus on creating attractive domestic opportunities, particularly in the clean energy sector, that pension funds would choose to back on commercial terms. "If policymakers want to unlock the power of pension capital, their focus should be on building a strong pipeline of investment opportunities," Alexander said, arguing this approach would deliver both economic growth and strong returns for savers while supporting job creation....