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Nigel Farage has alleged that certain council officials are obstructing the efforts of Reform UK councillors, as he defended the party’s approach to governing local authorities.
Reform UK secured control of 10 councils in England during the May local elections.
However, the party leader stated on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program that Reform councillors in some areas are being “hamstrung” by established bureaucracies.
While Reform has pledged to reduce wasteful spending and enhance the efficiency of the councils it manages, some of its spending decisions have drawn criticism. Opponents argue that there has been limited concrete action to cut costs.
In Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticized Reform UK’s plan to hire political assistants at an annual cost of up to £190,000, suggesting the funds should be allocated to front-line services instead.
George Finch, the council’s interim leader, defended the move as necessary due to the inability of council staff to generate “imaginative ideas” for resolving key issues.
The 19-year-old assumed leadership of the council following the resignation of Reform’s previous council leader, citing health concerns.
When questioned about the appropriate use of taxpayer money, Farage told the BBC, “At the moment, we’re finding that we’re very, very hamstrung.”
“We’re going into existing administrations, we’re facing obstructionism in many places.”
“And Warwickshire is a very, very good example.”
He added, “It’s better to have staff who support the will of the democratically elected councillors than it is to have public sector staff opposing them.”
Warwickshire County Council has been approached for comment.
Farage stated that in some areas, Reform is “working reasonably well with existing administrations,” while in others, there is “genuine, deliberate obstructionism.”
He further claimed that some officials “don’t want to show us the books” and where money is being spent.
Reform UK’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – modeled after the cost-cutting initiative established by former US President Donald Trump and previously headed by Elon Musk – was launched in June.
The unit consists of approximately 15 unelected volunteers and is led by Zia Yusuf, who resigned as party chairman in June before returning to Reform to head up Doge days later.
Reform asserts that Kent County Council will be the first to undergo an audit. However, in other areas, such as Staffordshire, the council reports that it is still awaiting the unit to commence its work.
Defending the pace of progress, Farage said, “Bear in mind, we’re not the Labour Party. We haven’t got hundreds of staff.”
“We’re a party that’s been really active for just over a year. We’re growing in size.”
“Yes, we have a Doge team who’ve not been everywhere yet. But you’ve seen already, us highlighting examples of extravagant expenditure.”
Farage was also questioned regarding spending decisions in Scarborough, where the town council approved a 600% increase in the Reform mayor’s allowance, from £500 to £3,500 annually.
The mayor has defended the action, arguing that the allowance aids in covering expenses and enables him to perform his duties effectively.
Farage stated he had “no idea” about the situation in the Reform-run council, adding, “Is he doing it or she doing it as a full-time job? I’ve no idea.”
“What we could do is just get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere and indeed our Doge team are doing the work unpaid,” he said.
“If people have got resources and they do it for free, that’s great. I don’t know the Scarborough Council situation.”
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