Political reporter Kate Whannel has reported that following this week’s local elections, Reform UK has achieved control over local councils for the first time. The party has taken charge in 10 areas and is the largest party in an additional four. Additionally, Reform UK has secured two new mayors in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire. With this newfound power, Nigel Farage’s party is now faced with the task of demonstrating what they will do.
Farage has expressed his desire to see “a Doge in every county,” referencing the Department of Government Efficiency established by US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk with the goal of reducing government spending. His comments, made as the party celebrated victory in Durham, outlined the prospective changes that would be implemented in councils led by Reform UK. Farage emphasized the importance of providing better value for council taxpayers, cutting excessive spending, identifying long-term contracts, and scaling back the size of local government to focus on essential services such as social care and mending infrastructure like pot holes.
Reform councillor Darren Grimes echoed Farage’s sentiments, highlighting the necessity of prioritizing essential services over costly projects such as net-zero initiatives and diversity programs. Grimes mentioned the possibility of conducting audits to evaluate the efficiency and value of existing roles within councils. Tony Travers, a professor of public policy, cautioned that significant savings might be challenging to achieve within the public sector given the history of budget cuts affecting local councils.
Reform has taken a firm stance against high levels of immigration and the influx of individuals seeking asylum in the UK via small boats crossing the channel. While local councils do not have direct authority over national immigration policies, Farage has vowed to resist central government efforts to distribute asylum seekers to regions governed by Reform UK. The party intends to prevent their communities from becoming “a dumping ground for illegal migrants.” The discourse surrounding asylum seeker accommodation remains contentious, especially with concerns about the increasing use of hotels for housing such individuals despite government promises to phase out this practice
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