| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date 08:10 - May 9 with 1920 views | unstableblue |
(What a sh!t show, where are we as a country when people think Reform are a good idea, concerning for the future, and our club gave them a platform)
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Evidence from the past year strongly suggests that Reform UK’s performance running local councils has been poor, with numerous resignations, broken promises, and little measurable improvement in services. Multiple investigations across national and regional outlets outline a pattern of inexperience, internal conflict, and unmet pledges, despite early claims of efficiency and “doing things differently.”
Councillor Resignations and Internal Chaos
Around 70 Reform councillors have quit, been expelled, or stood down since the May 2025 local elections, roughly 10% of their total intake, about double the attrition rate seen in Labour or Conservative councils over the same period. Reasons include disillusionment, scandals, and lack of experience in governance.
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openDemocracy and The Sunday Times report councils with up to four different leaders in a single year, such as Staffordshire
opendemocracy.net
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Examples:
Ian Cooper, Staffordshire’s first Reform leader, resigned after racist social media allegations; two successors also quit within weeks.
David Taylor (Worcestershire) resigned live on BBC after voting against his party’s 9% council tax rise, calling it a betrayal of campaign promises.
At Kent County Council, more than ten councillors quit or were expelled after a leaked video of the leader insulting colleagues. Seven later defected to another party.
Policy Delivery and Local Impact
1. Council Tax and Budgets
Reform campaigned on cutting taxes and waste, but every Reform-run council has raised taxes, typically by 3–5%, with some increasing them far more.
In Kent and Worcestershire, Reform leaders defended the rises as “responsible budgeting,” but critics call it a reversal of key pledges
thedailybritain.co.uk
opendemocracy.net
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2. Potholes and Infrastructure
Reform’s promise to “fix Britain’s roads” has not been achieved.
FOI data reviewed by openDemocracy shows increased pothole complaints in four out of five Reform-led councils compared to before they took power.
In West Northamptonshire, monthly pothole complaints rose from 860 to 1,193 after Reform took control.
3. Cuts and Efficiency Drives
Reform established “DOGE” or “DOLGE” (Department of Local Government Efficiency) units inspired by Elon Musk’s supposed U.S. model, but these have produced negligible or no savings.
In Kent, the flagship DOLGE team found nothing substantial to cut, and its head resigned in frustration
thedailybritain.co.uk
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In Staffordshire, The Sunday Times reported that Reform claimed £2.5m in savings largely inherited from the prior Conservative budget
thetimes.com
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4. Social Policy and “Culture War” Actions
Reform scrapped or defunded diversity, equality, and climate initiatives but found very little savings to show for it.
Several councils, like Derbyshire and Kent, disbanded their climate or net-zero committees, but actual savings were “small” and provoked local backlash.
Durham Council cut £2,500 from its local Pride event, citing “political ideology,” which sparked accusations of homophobia
opendemocracy.net
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5. Public Services
In Derbyshire, Reform moved to close eight care homes, prompting residents’ distress and local protests.
Councils have been criticised for closing public facilities such as recycling centres and libraries, with only limited new investment elsewhere.
Tangible Improvements (Sparse)
Across all reports, the few positive outcomes include:
Staffordshire: modest roadmap for highway repairs (+£15m in funding) and commitment to hire 120 children’s services staff over two years.
Kent: claimed £66m debt reduction and cancellation of some costly office projects, though critics say these were originally Tory proposals carried over.
However, these modest actions are overwhelmed by leadership instability, unmet promises, and rising costs. Observers note that Reform councillors underestimated the legal and financial limits of local government—most budgets are already dominated by statutory services (care, education, child protection), leaving little room for the radical “anti-waste” agenda they promised.
General Assessment
Overall performance:
Effectiveness: Low – limited achievements, widespread administrative problems.
Governance: Weak – frequent leadership changes and procedural breakdowns.
Credibility: Damaged – tax rises and internal scandals undermine Reform’s “anti-establishment” brand.
Public reaction: Local polls and reports suggest disappointment; in Kent, residents say “nothing has changed.”
Central Bylines summed it up succinctly: Reform-run councils have brought “division, departures, chaos and broken promises,” with little evidence of the reform their name suggests
centralbylines.co.uk
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In short, nearly a year into running several English councils, Reform UK has presided over resignations, tax hikes, local controversies, and minimal tangible gains. The pattern across Kent, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and beyond is one of inexperience meeting the practical limits of local government, leaving most councils mired in dysfunction.”
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 08:21 - May 9 with 1570 views | earlsgreenblue |
I take it you didn’t vote for them them! |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 08:44 - May 9 with 1505 views | Whos_blue |
Never mind all that local bolix.
Stop the boats
MBGA....... |  |
| "I don't want to be like everyone else. That's why I'm a mod, see?" |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 08:58 - May 9 with 1459 views | unstableblue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 08:44 - May 9 by Whos_blue |
Never mind all that local bolix.
Stop the boats
MBGA....... |
Exactly
Yeah stop all those brown people - never mind that following Nigel’s Brexit we had a massive unprecedented South Asian migration influx
Well it’s the cost of living then - doesn’t matter that our glorious leader Nigel backs
Trump and initially and now in part the Iran War folly, which is about to raise your bills exponentially
Well it’s two tier Keir… errr the glorious leader Nigel has just got there sleaziest £4m payment from a offshore crypto guy who’s going to directly influence policy
This aside… we’re going to have in the main incompetent muppets running our councils | |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 09:58 - May 9 with 1375 views | eireblue |
They don’t like it up ‘em. |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 11:39 - May 9 with 1274 views | BigManBlue |
Considering their only real nod to local campaigning seems to be "limit council tax rises", they've done pretty abysmally. Hopefully they'll have a year in Essex and Suffolk to demonstrate that they are in fact garbage, before the election for the shadow authorities next year and a chance to elect some slightly better candidates. |  |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 11:56 - May 9 with 1234 views | naa |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 11:39 - May 9 by BigManBlue |
Considering their only real nod to local campaigning seems to be "limit council tax rises", they've done pretty abysmally. Hopefully they'll have a year in Essex and Suffolk to demonstrate that they are in fact garbage, before the election for the shadow authorities next year and a chance to elect some slightly better candidates. |
The problem is their voters are people like Benters who has never given a single reason for voting for them other than illegal immigration (which I suspect he doesn't fully understand). This obviously has nothing to do with local councils at all.
People have had enough of the traditional parties, and I do get that but Farage has shown he is every bit as establishment as the rest. Huge backhanders, career in banking, private school education. How on earth he's managed to fool so many people baffles me. | | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:09 - May 9 with 1191 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 11:56 - May 9 by naa |
The problem is their voters are people like Benters who has never given a single reason for voting for them other than illegal immigration (which I suspect he doesn't fully understand). This obviously has nothing to do with local councils at all.
People have had enough of the traditional parties, and I do get that but Farage has shown he is every bit as establishment as the rest. Huge backhanders, career in banking, private school education. How on earth he's managed to fool so many people baffles me. |
It's not that baffling. He's a certain type of British persons idea of a working type man of the people. Whether it's the class system or the media's ongoing work in linking the working classes and people with accents to being lazy and feckless, we don't actually like our leaders to be actually from working class backgrounds or have any appearance that they might.
Dare I say especially the target demographic for reform even less so, gstk, sport the troops, Boris was a one but had a posh voice, and now Farage. They know who their betters are and it's not bally well people with accents or who live in council houses thank you very much. |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:13 - May 9 with 1183 views | naa |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:09 - May 9 by Axeldalai_lama |
It's not that baffling. He's a certain type of British persons idea of a working type man of the people. Whether it's the class system or the media's ongoing work in linking the working classes and people with accents to being lazy and feckless, we don't actually like our leaders to be actually from working class backgrounds or have any appearance that they might.
Dare I say especially the target demographic for reform even less so, gstk, sport the troops, Boris was a one but had a posh voice, and now Farage. They know who their betters are and it's not bally well people with accents or who live in council houses thank you very much. |
You could be right. But surely someone from working class stock who ended up in private education because they proved it could be done would be better than someone given it all at the start? Why don't people like those? | | | |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:52 - May 9 with 1112 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:13 - May 9 by naa |
You could be right. But surely someone from working class stock who ended up in private education because they proved it could be done would be better than someone given it all at the start? Why don't people like those? |
You'd think so. Perhaps some revel in their identity and see those climbing up and out as class traitors on some level. So they can't wait to tear them down. Whereas the proper top level people, you know, the upper classes, they have always been there, it's what they do. They don't want chancers who think they're better than common folk, they want the real deal who were born better. | | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:54 - May 9 with 1100 views | Benters |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 08:44 - May 9 by Whos_blue |
Never mind all that local bolix.
Stop the boats
MBGA....... |
I agree! |  |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 13:06 - May 9 with 1089 views | Whos_blue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 12:54 - May 9 by Benters |
I agree! |
Quel surprise.
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| "I don't want to be like everyone else. That's why I'm a mod, see?" |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:35 - May 9 with 976 views | Rimsy |
All the hand wringing from the lefties on here is hilarious. Don't know what you'll all do when Farage is pm  |  |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:49 - May 9 with 911 views | Axeldalai_lama |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:35 - May 9 by Rimsy |
All the hand wringing from the lefties on here is hilarious. Don't know what you'll all do when Farage is pm |
Ironically, many that are concerned about Farage becoming PM will be fine. The ones that are voting for him on the other hand look statistically more likely to bear the brunt. | | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:54 - May 9 with 902 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:35 - May 9 by Rimsy |
All the hand wringing from the lefties on here is hilarious. Don't know what you'll all do when Farage is pm |
This "owning the libs" approach is one I find very frustrating. Yes, there are a lot of people who dislike Farge's approach to divide through the use of hatred and making ethnic minorities scapegoats. Or who don't like the incompetence displayed by the party, the corruption, the working on behalf of Russia, etc. They come from across the political spectrum, not just "lefties". Most of those people can articulate why they dislike Farage's approach though.
But for some reason there are some who take joy out of seeing other people's distress or seeing them lose out. Why do you do that? It just seems like cruelty for the sake of cruelty. |  |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:59 - May 9 with 875 views | J2BLUE |
Just read through their policies.
Most of them sound fairly reasonable. At least on the surface. Carefully read through them and there are plenty of questionable things and, I suspect, deliberate lies, especially as Farage has said manifestos are just aims and not promises. |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 18:11 - May 9 with 835 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:59 - May 9 by J2BLUE |
Just read through their policies.
Most of them sound fairly reasonable. At least on the surface. Carefully read through them and there are plenty of questionable things and, I suspect, deliberate lies, especially as Farage has said manifestos are just aims and not promises. |
He's always been excellent at couching things in way that make them seem less sinister than they are. Always staying just on the right side of what he thinks will be acceptable. And he's good at judging what people will see as acceptable, as we we've seen from his drift rightwards to the point they're now suggesting internment camps for foreigners, some of whom will currently be here perfectly legally and will be our friends and colleagues. Yet his supporters are nodding along going 'yeah, that seems a good idea'. Chilling stuff, but he's good at it. | |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 18:18 - May 9 with 817 views | eirannach_gorm |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:35 - May 9 by Rimsy |
All the hand wringing from the lefties on here is hilarious. Don't know what you'll all do when Farage is pm |
Farage will not be PM. If there is any hint of this the other parties will cooperate to keep this from happening.
This is almost a mirror image of what occurred in Irish politics. Since the foundation of the state there were two parties that held power even though we use Proportional Representaftion which should help the smaller parties. In recent years there was a similar discontent with the established parties. So there was a series of coalition governments with one or other of the two main parties were in partnership with smaller parties. At this point Sinn Fein became the leading party but did not have enough seats to go into government without partners. No-one would go into government with them. What actually happened was amazingly the two sworn enemies agreed a coalition government.
This is the scenario facing Reform | | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 18:25 - May 9 with 806 views | witchdoctor |
well yeah..but apart from that….😏 |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 18:28 - May 9 with 801 views | SomethingBlue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:35 - May 9 by Rimsy |
All the hand wringing from the lefties on here is hilarious. Don't know what you'll all do when Farage is pm |
We'll look on impassively while he shoves you into the grave you've gleefully dug for yourself. | |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 19:04 - May 9 with 744 views | jontysnut |
Sad thing is, like MAGAS, none of his voters will give a toss.
Couple interviewed on local TV at polling station about Barnsley. Labour leader ousted after 30 years. They were saying how well Barnsley Council had done. Of course, they voted Reform. |  | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 19:54 - May 9 with 668 views | DJR |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 17:59 - May 9 by J2BLUE |
Just read through their policies.
Most of them sound fairly reasonable. At least on the surface. Carefully read through them and there are plenty of questionable things and, I suspect, deliberate lies, especially as Farage has said manifestos are just aims and not promises. |
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) confers a permanent right to live in the UK. Abolishing ILR for those who have it is not reasonable.
Also not reasonable is leaving the European Convention on Human Right and joining Belarus and Russia as the only European countries that are not members with all the consequences for civil liberties that will follow.
Nor is leaving the Refugee Convention which they will have to do.
I could go but but you get the gist.
Sadly we've reached the stage where many people think these things are reasonable or don't really care. [Post edited 9 May 19:57]
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 20:04 - May 9 with 631 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 11:56 - May 9 by naa |
The problem is their voters are people like Benters who has never given a single reason for voting for them other than illegal immigration (which I suspect he doesn't fully understand). This obviously has nothing to do with local councils at all.
People have had enough of the traditional parties, and I do get that but Farage has shown he is every bit as establishment as the rest. Huge backhanders, career in banking, private school education. How on earth he's managed to fool so many people baffles me. |
Farage is the biggest career politician you will get. And the laziest skiving money-grabbing one too.
It is remarkable how those who support cannot see him for what he so clearly is. |  |
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| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 20:10 - May 9 with 620 views | lazyblue |
Well , I’m hoping they sort Ipswich town centre for a start as far too many sweet/vape/barber shops for some reason! | | | |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 20:12 - May 9 with 612 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Asking AI how have Reform councils and councillors performed to date on 20:10 - May 9 by lazyblue |
Well , I’m hoping they sort Ipswich town centre for a start as far too many sweet/vape/barber shops for some reason! |
Any idea how you expect them to deal with that?
EDIT: You do realise that their party are actively pro-smoking and vaping don't you? [Post edited 9 May 20:13]
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