Reform UK discussion

[Krokodil]

You'd think that people would look at how much of a disaster Reform have been when running councils like Kent and Staffordshire. But no one really pays attention to local authorities beyond moaning about potholes

 

[Class 317]

You'd think that people would look at how much of a disaster Reform have been when running councils like Kent and Staffordshire. But no one really pays attention to local authorities beyond moaning about potholes

Indeed my sister works for Kent council and has noticed a drain of talented individuals to other councils and they seem to be struggling to recruit. Losing talent is likely to make it harder to run those councils.

 

[Killingworth]

Indeed my sister works for Kent council and has noticed a drain of talented individuals to other councils and they seem to be struggling to recruit. Losing talent is likely to make it harder to run those councils.

Reform won Derbyshire in May. Too early for a balanced view but usual mutterings blaming 'the council' helped get them in. They may get them back out.

Elections nowadays are seemingly won by votes for 'anyone but the incumbents' as much as anything positive. Plus tactical voting to ensure that negative result, of course.

 

[ainsworth74]

We are of course coming to the end of this - for local government at least - in the next few years with the merging of county and local borough councils into unitary authorities.

You're more optimistic than I am

You'd think that people would look at how much of a disaster Reform have been when running councils like Kent and Staffordshire. But no one really pays attention to local authorities beyond moaning about potholes

Exactly. Most people associate the council with potholes, bin collections and probably some basic public realm stuff like public toilets (in the few places they still exist) and mowing the grass verges. Which is one of the reasons people lose their minds when Council Tax goes up whilst all those things tend to get worse. They don't necessarily connect all the mandatory social care that Councils have to provide which slowly eats more and more budget.

 

[Altnashin]

The above comments about Kent and Staffordshire, amongst other Reform controlled councils, has been counteracted by Farage giving a speech on how well Reform councils are doing and how much they have saved.

I won't post a link to the video but it is available on YouTube for those who want to seek it out.

I have provided an alternative link to Farage being questioned about Reform councils.

MSN

 

[Harpo]

Next up in why all political donations/bribes should be banned and strictly enforced:

Nigel Farage received £5m from donor Christopher Harborne before he became an MP

The Reform leader says the gift was for his personal security - but opponents say he should have declared it.

www.bbc.co.uk

£5 million makes the Reeves & Starmer free event tickets furore of a couple of years ago pale into extreme insignificance. Let’s see what the press does with this on Thursday morning - I’ll not hold my breath.

 

[Horizon22]

You're more optimistic than I am

Well I mean the local government reform is happening, so in terms of "this organisation deals with X but only if Y/Z" will end. But yes the national / local split will still happen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2026 ==

They don't necessarily connect all the mandatory social care that Councils have to provide which slowly eats more and more budget.

Not just that but also handling their statutory duties like emergency housing (for people presenting and stating they are homeless / have nowhere to go) are also very expensive.

 

[Altnashin]

Let’s see what the press does with this on Thursday morning - I’ll not hold my breath.

I should imagine this afternoons awful event will be tomorrow's headlines now.

Police treating stabbing of two men in Golders Green as terrorism

Assailant was reportedly hunting for anyone ‘visibly Jewish’ in suspected antisemitic attack in north London

www.theguardian.com

 

[SargeNpton]

The above comments about Kent and Staffordshire, amongst other Reform controlled councils, has been counteracted by Farage giving a speech on how well Reform councils are doing and how much they have saved.

I won't post a link to the video but it is available on YouTube for those who want to seek it out.

EDIT: This is a roundup of various stories that have appeared in the local Northants press (and Private Eye) over the last few months, so unable to provide links to individual sources.

Wonder how he will react to West Northamptonshire?

Maximum council tax increase. Free parking on Sundays removed. Blue Badge parking no longer free. General parking fees raised. Parking charges introduced at some country parks that were previously free.

Several Reform councillors kicked out or voluntarily become independent. Oh, and one who has had to stand down as a councillor.

The promised "DOGE" inspection never taking place.

And a link to the latest problem: changing the parking rates and restrictions without going through the necessary legal processes first: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/...work-was-in-place-as-2000-people-sign-8166473

Parking chaos erupts across West Northamptonshire as council apologises ‘unreservedly’ after hiking prices, fining disabled drivers and starting infrastructure work all before legal paperwork was in place as 2,000 people sign protest petition​

 

[Killingworth]

Maybe Farage can get some things right? Like his Doncaster councillors questioning the lease and loans to take over Doncaster/Sheffield's Finningley site from Peel. That does need closer scrutiny before it goes beyond any point of no return. It should have been more carefully scrutinised before but it seems to have been carefully obscured up to now.

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzlr9pqy2o

DSA could be 'massive drain' on taxpayers - Farage​

Image caption,
Reform UK has withdrawn support for a loan to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport
ByLucy Ashton
South Yorkshire political reporter

• • Published
    29 April 2026
  • 27 Comments

Reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) risks being "a financial millstone" around the necks of council tax payers, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said.
Reform councillors in Doncaster say they want the airport to reopen but have called an extraordinary meeting to reverse approval of a £57m loan from the council.
The party says it no longer backs the loan, which was passed in November 2025, with Farage describing it as "a disaster".
Labour Mayor Ros Jones said Reform was "standing in the way of incredible economic potential and opportunity".
Farage told BBC Radio Leeds: "We want this airport open but the deal that is currently proposed would be a disaster for taxpayers in Doncaster because the council, under this deal, is not getting the freehold.
"We want the deal to go ahead, I've sent [Reform MP] Richard Tice up, he's been a successful property developer, we've examined this and the council in the deal must get the freehold.
"If it gets the freehold then we can negotiate with other people to be providers."

'Better deal'​

He added: "It is my fear that it would become a financial millstone around the necks of Doncaster council tax payers.
"We want to save this airport but we do not want it to be a massive drain year on year on council tax payers that leads to it closing again.
"We are fighting and working for a better deal."
Jones accused Reform of making continual "U-turns" over the airport ahead of the extraordinary meeting on 11 May.
She said: "Last week Reform said DSA should be privately funded and today they're saying it should be acquired by the council or government, even if that means through a compulsory purchase order (CPO).
"It is important to remember we offered to buy the freehold back in 2022 and Peel refused, the offer of a lease effectively killed off any chance of a successful CPO.
"A CPO application could take up between five to seven years, with little chance of success and considerable risks in the likelihood of it failing, including compensation to the landowner.
"If Reform vote to U-turn on the loan, it will kill off the airport, and Reform will forever be remembered for standing in the way and depriving Doncaster and South Yorkshire of the airport that would deliver incredible economic potential and opportunity."
City of Doncaster Council is working to reopen DSA with £160m of public money, not including the loan agreed last November.
The first large jet to land at DSA since its closure in 2022 touched down on Tuesday.
Under the original funding deal, freight services could begin in 2027, with passenger flights starting in 2028.

 

[Altnashin]

Wonder how he will react to West Northamptonshire?

Maximum council tax increase. Free parking on Sundays removed. Blue Badge parking no longer free. General parking fees raised. Parking charges introduced at some country parks that were previously free.

Several Reform councillors kicked out or voluntarily become independent. Oh, and one who has had to stand down as a councillor.

The promised "DOGE" inspection never taking place.

FAKE NEWS

He's learnt from his on/off friend Donald Trump.

 

[jon0844]

If Nigel got £5m for security, why is he still too scared to go to Clacton and meet his constituents?

I wonder if he'll be up late tonight creating invoices to prove the money went on his personal protection?

 

[Bald Rick]

You can buy a LOT of security for £5m. And NF’s is so good it’s barely visible!

 

[ainsworth74]

Not just that but also handling their statutory duties like emergency housing (for people presenting and stating they are homeless / have nowhere to go) are also very expensive.

Yep that's another very good one actually. The scale of emergency housing, which is at least in part a symptom of the wider housing crisis, is costing some local authorities an absolute fortune. This is also manifests as one of the reasons why Council's are so difficult to get housing assistance from and why they're so keen to brush people off. Costs lots of money that they may just not have but have to find from somewhere. And a lack of secure housing or indeed any housing comes with all sorts of other issues.

But I'm sure Reform will have magic fixes for all these issues once they're in charge of loads more Council's next month...

 

[The Ham]

FAKE NEWS

He's learnt from his on/off friend Donald Trump.

That works to a point, however if promises are made and things get worse and it's s pattern repeated (see also Worcestershire) and the number of councils they control increases (so the risk of failures happening also increases) it could result in a very bad general election.

Also, locally to me there's a bit of a pattern of the District and County Councillor Candidates for Reform are the same person (and for balance the Lib Dems) Now whilst it's possible to do both, generally it's advisable to have done one first (or at least been a Parish Councillor) and could require a significant amount of time (if they have other responsibilities, like being on a sub committee, it's not impossible to be nearly the same hours as a full time job.

If they have too many wins, that could cause a few issues for them.

 

[sor]

You can buy a LOT of security for £5m. And NF’s is so good it’s barely visible!

You can find them, just go to any disabled parking bay while Farage is in the area

Pensioner left with bruises after Farage’s team ‘manhandled’ him during disabled parking row

A blue badge holder was left bruised and bemused after being “manhandled” by Nigel Farage’s team following a row over a disabled parking space.

www.shetlandtimes.co.uk

A blue badge holder was left bruised and bemused after being “manhandled” by Nigel Farage’s team following a row over a disabled parking space.

Don Whittle, 75, confronted a driver for parking in a disabled bay in Lerwick on Tuesday, before learning the car was there to collect the Reform UK leader.

The pensioner, who has a heart condition, said he was unaware of the political visit and had only been visiting Lerwick for an appointment.

But when he noticed all the disabled bays had been taken up by vehicles without blue badges he began taking photos - something he frequently does to raise awareness. of the challenges facing disabled people.

When the driver spotted Mr Whittle taking pictures, he moved out of the disabled bay - straight onto double yellow lines instead.

 

[Altnashin]

That works to a point, however if promises are made and things get worse and it's s pattern repeated (see also Worcestershire) and the number of councils they control increases (so the risk of failures happening also increases) it could result in a very bad general election.

Also, locally to me there's a bit of a pattern of the District and County Councillor Candidates for Reform are the same person (and for balance the Lib Dems) Now whilst it's possible to do both, generally it's advisable to have done one first (or at least been a Parish Councillor) and could require a significant amount of time (if they have other responsibilities, like being on a sub committee, it's not impossible to be nearly the same hours as a full time job.

If they have too many wins, that could cause a few issues for them.

Never underestimate the cult of Nigel Farage/Reform.

 

[greatkingrat]

I think people are vastly overestimating the effect of local council performance, whether good, bad or average, on national voting. Both Labour and the Conservatives have led councils to the verge of bankruptcy in the past without any noticeable negative effects.

 

[martin butler]

Never underestimate the cult of Nigel Farage/Reform.

Then all I can say is may the lord help us, because We would become a broken country possibly facing a ruined economy and broken morally,

 

[Meole]

I think people are vastly overestimating the effect of local council performance, whether good, bad or average, on national voting. Both Labour and the Conservatives have led councils to the verge of bankruptcy in the past without any noticeable negative effects.

Because central government reduced funding post 2010 whilst requiring local government to do more and more statutory duties, all Reform has done is cancel much needed school building, shut libraries, and try to get out of school transport.

 

[sor]

I think people are vastly overestimating the effect of local council performance, whether good, bad or average, on national voting. Both Labour and the Conservatives have led councils to the verge of bankruptcy in the past without any noticeable negative effects.

A major difference is that Reform have claimed that it's all down to mismanagement and waste and that they will fix it all. The sort of person who is aware of the realities of local government spending is also probably not the sort of person who would vote Reform. Most Reform voters don't know or don't care, they just see the shiny pamphlets and vote accordingly expecting that those potholes will get fixed.

One hopes that voters recognise that the performance of their Reform council will translate to the performance of any future Reform government

 

[Ediswan]

The only 'policy' in their election broadcast was 'get rid of Starmer'. Nothing said about local government.

 

[Tetchytyke]

But I'm sure Reform will have magic fixes for all these issues once they're in charge of loads more Council's next month...

Deport all the forrins and everything will be a land of milk and honey.

The depressing thing is that there are a lot of people in this country who genuinely believe this to be true.

 

[nr758123]

The only 'policy' in their election broadcast was 'get rid of Starmer'. Nothing said about local government.

I read something in one of their leaflets about "stopping the boats". I took this to be a pledge to drain the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

 

[SteveP29]

Whilst I would like for you to be correct I worry that you may be overestimating peoples understanding who is actually responsible for what (i.e. what is Local Government vs National Government), how Council funding actually works (see all the people that complain that Council Tax goes up and services get worse which is to be expected due to funding constraints placed on Councils), and how smoothly the Reform favourable media and hangers on will lie about who is to blame and will happily amplify the excuses made by Reform led councils.

I think it will do damage to them to be sure, I don't think it will be fatal to them in a national electoral context.

That will require a lessening of the ever present howl for change, any change, just make it change that voters keep sending to politicians and continues to not yield any changes no matter who they vote for.

Exactly. Most people associate the council with potholes, bin collections and probably some basic public realm stuff like public toilets (in the few places they still exist) and mowing the grass verges. Which is one of the reasons people lose their minds when Council Tax goes up whilst all those things tend to get worse. They don't necessarily connect all the mandatory social care that Councils have to provide which slowly eats more and more budget.

This is why councils had to start inserting another sheet of paper in with the council tax bill for the next year outlining 'What we spent your council tax on last year' with breakdowns and pie charts etc.

And STILL people don't read them, so remain uneducated, they're only interested in the bottom line amount they have to pay on the front page, unfortunately.

 

[Merle Haggard]

EDIT: This is a roundup of various stories that have appeared in the local Northants press (and Private Eye) over the last few months, so unable to provide links to individual sources.

Wonder how he will react to West Northamptonshire?

Maximum council tax increase. Free parking on Sundays removed. Blue Badge parking no longer free. General parking fees raised. Parking charges introduced at some country parks that were previously free.

Several Reform councillors kicked out or voluntarily become independent. Oh, and one who has had to stand down as a councillor.

The promised "DOGE" inspection never taking place.

And a link to the latest problem: changing the parking rates and restrictions without going through the necessary legal processes first: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/...work-was-in-place-as-2000-people-sign-8166473

Perhaps worth pointing out that the previous incumbents didn't cover themselves in glory. I don't remember anyone being asked whether they thought a unitary authority was a good idea, but it probably became a necessity after the poor financial performance of the constituent councils resulting in allegedly insolvency. For instance, Northampton Borough Council made a (presumably unsecured) loan of £10,250,000 to the local football club, none of which was repaid. BBC investigations (easily available on the web) suggest where it may have gone. There's a YouGov report into the downfall of Northampton County Council, the summary of which, in my opinion, is quite scathing.

I am also not entirely sure that charging for parking is a completely bad idea. Within Northampton, the bus service is not that bad; where I live it's a 7 minute walk to a stop (Daimler Close - see Bustlmes) where there's 'buses into town from 05.30 to 23.00 and most of the day it's 10 buses per hour. (although to be fair, not evenly distributed). There's a stop for the Wellingborough and Eastwards services slightly further away, with buses every 30 minutes. Travelling quite frequently from the railway station I can generally use the bus even for an early start, and it's £3. Off course I accept that not everywhere in town is so well served, but it's a good parameter in choice of house location. Perhaps charging for parking will encourage more people to use the buses.

Not defending Reform, I'm a none of the above p[erson.

 

[dgl]

Deport all the forrins and everything will be a land of milk and honey.

The depressing thing is that there are a lot of people in this country who genuinely believe this to be true.

And why can the hospital not see me, now with all the no good foreigners gone there should be plenty of appointments free.
Sorry sir all the foreigners you saw in the hospital worked here, and were not patients, therefore now they are gone we are very short staffed, might be able to see you in a few years...

 

[MP33]

I received today a personal letter, from Nigel Farage. Along with millions of others. In the last General Election, I voted for my MP. Who is on the Brexit wing of the Conservative party. So, Reform are wasting their time, offering anything new.

 

[martin butler]

One thing you can depend on would be chaos, the knuckled headed racist element would most likely erupt in violence if Reform were ever to gain power nationally, they would storm all the places they believe are centres for asylum seekers, and most likely would assault those inside, it would certainly not end well, as well as turning on the police should they try to stop them, people would be killed, law and order would break down, Which of course will suit the would be authoritarian tendency of some, as police would have to be replaced by military, to restore order,

Reform would have its own ICE thugs, who would be targeting immigrant communities, even being born here won't stop you being swept up,

 

[Harpo]

And why can the hospital not see me, now with all the no good foreigners gone there should be plenty of appointments free.
Sorry sir all the foreigners you saw in the hospital worked here, and were not patients, therefore now they are gone we are very short staffed, might be able to see you in a few years...

Assuming that the NHS would continue in its existing form under Reform.