Then Thursday happened. Burnham strolled home with 54.8 per cent of the vote. Reform’s Robert Kenyon managed 34.5 per cent, 20 points adrift. Hardly the revolution.
Why it all went wrong for Reform, Jack Rankin, spectator.com
Author: True Thinker
Reform-led Lancashire county council could quit refugee resettlement scheme
Councillor announces plan to withdraw from government-funded programme on eve of local elections
The Reform-led Lancashire county council will withdraw from the government’s refugee resettlement scheme, one of its cabinet members has said.
Joshua Roberts announced plans for Lancashire to leave the scheme, which would make it the first local authority to do so. It would mean Lancashire would no longer participate in the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) and the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP).
The authority coordinates participation in these schemes on behalf of 14 unitary and district councils in Lancashire that have responsibilities for housing.
Reform-led Lancashire county council could quit refugee resettlement scheme, The Guardian
Lib Dems win by-election after Reform controversy
The Liberal Democrats have won a council by-election which saw Reform withdraw support for its candidate over offensive social media posts.
Zetland ward voters elected Alison Barnes to Teesside’s Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council on Thursday, following the resignation of Independent councillor Jonny Neal.
Lib Dems win by-election after Reform controversy, BBC
Reform faces police investigation over ‘concerned neighbour’ byelection letters
Material distributed in Gorton and Denton did not have legally required imprint stating it was funded by party
Reform UK will face a police investigation in Gorton and Denton after admitting it sent out letters from a “concerned neighbour” which did not state they had been funded and distributed by the party.
Greater Manchester police confirmed it had received a report about the breach of electoral law and said it would investigate. The Electoral Commission said the omission was a matter for the police, stressing that failing “to include an imprint in candidate election material is an offence”.
Dozens of voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency reported receiving letters from a pensioner written in a handwriting-style font on Friday. The letters do not include an imprint saying who they have been funded and distributed by, as required by electoral law.
Reform faces police investigation over ‘concerned neighbour’ byelection letters, The Guardian
Analysis of Reform UK proposal for income tax cuts in Scotland
The biggest direct beneficiaries of such a change would be the high-income taxpayers who currently pay substantially more in income tax than in the rest of the UK
…
But this does not properly confront the challenges they would face in finding £2 billion or more of spending cuts in the coming parliament.
Analysis of Reform UK proposal for income tax cuts in Scotland, ifs.org.uk
Reform UK expels two Kent councillors accused of ‘undermining’ its interests
Robert Ford, subject of an ‘unofficial complaint’, and Bill Barrett, suspended after leaked meeting, removed via email
Two suspended Reform UK councillors from Kent have been expelled from the party over a misconduct allegation and after the Guardian published a leaked video which revealed tensions among its county council ranks.
Robert Ford and Bill Barrett were removed from the party via an email from Reform HQ on Monday, which said they had “undermined” the interests of the party and brought it into “disrepute”.
Ford and Barrett sat on Kent county council alongside Oliver Bradshaw, Paul Thomas and Maxine Fothergill, who were also suspended last week. The Guardian understands Thomas, Bradshaw and Fothergill remain suspended pending investigation.
Reform UK expels two Kent councillors accused of ‘undermining’ its interests, theguardian.com
Reform UK expels three more Kent county councillors for ‘dishonest and deceptive’ behaviour
Reform UK has expelled another three county councillors from the party this afternoon alleging “a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour”.
The dismissals of Cllrs Brian Black, Paul Thomas and Oliver Bradshaw brings to five the number of expulsions from the Kent County Council group in the past four days.
Reform UK expels three more Kent county councillors for ‘dishonest and deceptive’ behaviour, Kent Online
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May? (36)
Here is a list of the councillors which Reform has shed from the May 2025 local elections. The latest updates are the addition of three more defections in Cornwall, reinforcing Reform’s loss of largest party status on the council, plus also another three expulsions in Kent. Plus bonus news from Grantham…
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May?, Mark Pack
Reform UK suspends four Kent councillors after leaked video
Party accuses council members of bringing Reform ‘into disrepute’ as film of private meeting shows fractious dispute
Reform UK has suspended four of its Kent councillors after a video was leaked of the council’s leader telling her colleagues to “suck it up”.
Reform UK suspends four Kent councillors after leaked video, ft.com
Poll predicts East Hampshire could turn Lib Dem as Reform UK surge across county
East Hampshire could switch from Conservative to Liberal Democrat if an election were held today, according to a new YouGov poll.
The survey also predicts that nine Hampshire constituencies would be won by Reform UK.
The second YouGov poll of 13,000 voters since the last general election projects a Reform UK government winning 311 seats, just 15 short of a majority.
Poll predicts East Hampshire could turn Lib Dem as Reform UK surge across county, farnhamherald.com
Richard Tice has 15-year record of supporting ‘net stupid zero’ initiatives
Firms led by deputy Reform UK leader since 2011 have shown commitment to saving energy and cutting CO2 emissions
He never seems to tire of deriding “net stupid zero”, but Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, has a 15-year business record of support for sustainability and green energy initiatives.
The Reform party has made opposition to green energy and net zero part of its policy platform. Its founder, Nigel Farage, has called net zero policies a “lunacy”; the party has called to lift the ban on fracking for fossil gas; and one of the first Reform-led councils, Kent, rescinded last month its declaration of a climate emergency.
Richard Tice has 15-year record of supporting ‘net stupid zero’ initiatives, Damien Gayle Environment correspondent, The Guardian, Fri 10 Oct 2025
Do Britons think Reform UK are racist? (mostly, yes)
Labour are attempting to take the fight to Reform UK, with Keir Starmer describing the rival party’s proposal to scrap indefinite leave to remain as “racist”, while home secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded Nigel Farage of “worse than racist” dog-whistle politics.
A new YouGov survey conducted for ITV Peston finds that more than four in ten Britons consider the Reform UK party (47%), policies (46%) and voters (43%) to be “generally racist”. This compares to 35-36% in each case who disagree, believing them to generally not be racist.
Do Britons think Reform UK are racist?, YouGov
Reform leader admitted taking bribes
Nathan Gill, who led Reform UK in Wales in 2021, admitted taking bribes to make statements in favour of Vladimir Putin’s Russia while he was a Member of the European Parliament.
Nigel Farage says Nathan Gill was ‘bad apple’ over Russian bribes, The National
Councillor quits Reform UK over divergent views
Reform UK’s deputy group leader on Cornwall Council has resigned from the party citing a difference in views.
Rowland O’Connor was one of 28 Reform councillors who won a seat during the local elections in May.
The councillor for St Columb Major, St Mawgan and St Wenn said it had become clear his priorities had “increasingly diverged” from the party’s and he had decided to sit as an independent.
Councillor quits Reform UK over divergent views, BBC
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
Gill admits to eight counts of bribery relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament.
Nathan Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, admitted eight counts of bribery on dates between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges, The Guardian
Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP
A Reform UK county councillor in Kent has defected to UKIP, it has been announced.
Amelia Randall, who serves the Birchington & Rural division in Thanet, has left the party four months after being elected.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “We remain committed to our mission of delivering for our residents and ensuring Nigel Farage becomes Britain’s next Prime Minister.”
Opposition leader at Kent County Council, Antony Hook, has called for Randall to resign and a by-election to be called.
He said: “She should resign so that Birchington residents can make a fresh choice about who they want to represent them.”
Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP, BBC
Stamp Duty ‘Hypocrite’, says Mirror
Luxury house Farage boasted of buying was purchased by his partner…slashing the tax paid by £44,000 STAMP DUTY ‘HYPOCRITE’
The Mirror (UK Newspaper) headline
Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government
Reform-run West Northamptonshire is removing all references to ‘climate change’ and ‘net zero’ from official documents, yet continuing to take government green grants
The Reform UK-run council in West Northamptonshire is systematically removing all references to climate change and net zero from its strategies, website and documents, Byline Times can reveal – while simultaneously continuing to take Government cash for green projects.
The move follows the council scrapping its net zero targets, in a controversial decision last Wednesday that sparked local protests. The news was announced in an article in The Telegraph – around two hours before the actual decision had been voted on.
Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government, bylinetimes.com
Reform UK councillor expelled from party
A Reform UK councillor who was elected to Devon County Council in May has been expelled from the party.
Reform UK said it had expelled Ed Hill for publishing a letter about free school meals in the name of all Reform Devon councillors without their consent.
Reform UK councillor expelled from party, BBC
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election
The Conservatives have won back Eccleshall & Gnosall on Staffordshire County Council
Reform UK has lost one of the Staffordshire County Council seats it won on May 1 – just 78 days after that landslide victory. Reform UK swept to power in May after winning 49 of the 62 Staffordshire County Council divisions.
But a by-election was triggered just days later after offensive social media posts from Councillor Wayne Titley led to his resignation. Now the Conservatives have regained Eccleshall & Gnosall following this morning’s election result.
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election, stokesentinel.co.uk
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over appalling living conditions of her rental flat
An Isle of Wight housing committee councillor who was previously hit with warning notices over the state of a flat she rented out came under fire this week.
At Wednesday evening’s full council meeting, Reform UK’s new Central Rural representative Caroline Gladwin was the subject of a member question directed at Councillor Clare Mosdell, Conservative chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee.
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over ‘appalling living conditions’ of her rental flat, On The Wight
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war
Reform UK is mounting an Elon Musk-inspired bid to slash state “waste.” The fireworks have already begun.
MAIDSTONE, England — Half an hour into a Kent County Council meeting, council leader Linden Kemkaran has already taken aim at trans women in a “wig and a skirt” and migrants “invading” Britain.
This is the Garden of England — home to farmers, commuters, vineyards, seaside poverty, rich London escapees, and the beaches where tens of thousands of migrants have landed in inflatable dinghies — and it now belongs to Reform UK.
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war, politico.eu
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business…
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum
Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business, subcommittees were cancelled, Reform UK councillors failed to sign their declaration of acceptance of office, others failed to complete their register of interests and the planning committee’s work was on hold after half the Reform UK members failed to turn up for their statutory training that qualifies them to take planning decisions.
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum, morningstaronline.co.uk
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council
The interim leader of Warwickshire County Council has defended plans to bring in political assistants costing up to £190,000 per year in the face of outrage from other parties.
Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) confirmed he had instigated the proposals that will be considered by all councillors next week.
They would see the biggest three parties at Shire Hall – Reform, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives – have a dedicated council officer to “undertake research and provide administrative support to members of political groups in the discharge of any of their (council) functions”, although the Lib Dems have spoken out to object to the idea.
National legislation allows councils to employ up to three people, one for each of the council’s three biggest groups provided they have at least 10 per cent of the seats available.
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire World
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration
It was reported on 16 July that County Durham council, presently dominated by Reform UK, is now thought to have become the first council in the country, to revoke its climate declaration. In its place the council has declared a care emergency.
Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader of Durham County Council and a former presenter on GB News was reported as saying: “We are done with expensive virtue signalling tripe and care about our residents,” and was also noted as saying that the ongoing social care crisis is the “most urgent threat to the well-being of our children and the financial stability of our county”
It was also said that the previous council had approved an environment pledge aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2045 running alongside the current Climate Emergency Response Plan.
Another Reform councillor, Andrew Husband seemed to hint that global warming would be a good thing as: “During the Roman-occupied era not far away from County Durham, around 45AD, there is evidence of Roman vineyards along Hadrian’s Wall. This is because the Roman period in Britain is known for having a relatively warm climate which would have been conducive to growing grapes. Mind, how the climate has changed”
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration, northeastbylines.co.uk
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it
Reform UK has received millions of pounds in donations from climate deniers and fossil fuel sources, so it is not a surprise that Nigel Farage wants to make net zero the “next Brexit”.
The party is especially opposed to green energy projects in Lincolnshire, where senior figures have spoken out against solar panel farms — large installations of renewable electricity in the countryside.
Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy chair and the MP for Boston and Skegness, promised that his Lincolnshire colleagues would oppose solar farms “every step of the way”. “Reform control the Mayoralty and County Council in Lincolnshire with myself as local MP,” he wrote on X. “If you are thinking of investing in solar farms, battery storage systems, or trying to build pylons, think again.”
Which makes it all a bit embarrassing that on Monday, two of Reform’s top councillors missed an important date to discuss a new solar panel project.
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it, Hope Not Hate
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months
Move comes hours after Zia Yusuf, the party’s efficiency tsar, had criticised former home secretary
Suella Braverman’s husband has quit Reform UK six months after joining.
Rael Braverman issued a short statement on X, saying: “I have left Reform effective immediately.”
It came hours after Zia Yusuf, the Reform efficiency tsar, had criticised Mrs Braverman, the former home secretary, on the same platform.
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months, telegraph.co.uk
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty
Analysis of polling data shows party competes directly with Labour in poorer heartlands
Support for Reform UK has surged in areas with higher rates of child poverty, underlining the rightwing populist party’s potential to connect with disillusioned voters in Labour’s heartlands.
A Financial Times analysis of election projections by pollster More in Common shows the vast majority of constituencies where Reform is expected to perform well have higher than average child poverty rates.
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty, Financial Times
Why Reform Has Split in Three
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals
Inviting failed candidates to try again under lax rules suggests that they are either struggling to recruit candidates, or something more sinister.
Reform UK has told its members in Kent it will relax vetting rules, and is ‘strongly’ encouraging prospective candidates who previously failed vetting to reapply.
[…]
The move to water down the party’s vetting process comes despite ongoing candidate scandals. Daniel Taylor, a Reform councillor in Thanet, was recently charged with threatening to kill his wife. Reform withdrew the whip after he was charged.
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals, leftfootforward.org
Reform UK to introduce less stringent ‘common sense’ vetting system for candidates
Party says those who previously failed vetting are ‘strongly encouraged’ to reapply under new criteria
Reform UK has told its members it is introducing a less stringent “common sense” vetting system for would-be candidates after complaints the previous checks were too strict, despite a recent series of controversies linked to the party.
Reform UK to introduce less stringent ‘common sense’ vetting system for candidates, The Guardian
Reform councillor quits two months after election
A Reform UK councillor has resigned just two months after being elected to Doncaster Council.
Samuel Booth was elected in the Bentley ward alongside Reform’s Rebecca Booth and Labour’s James Church at the May elections.
Reform councillor quits two months after election, BBC
Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections
Kent County Council, led by the Reform UK party, has announced the removal of all books featuring transgender themes from the children’s sections of its libraries—a move that has sparked significant backlash and concern.
The council’s leader, Linden Kemkaran, revealed the decision via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 2 July. “Another victory for #commonsenseinKent,” she wrote. “My brilliant cabinet member Cllr Paul Webb has just got this trans material REMOVED from the children’s sections of all Kent’s libraries. Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.”
The announcement did not include details on which specific titles or materials were removed, nor how many books are affected. Kent County Council oversees 99 community libraries and operates five mobile library vans.
Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader in the council, criticised the announcement as both “vague” and “bizarre”, particularly as it was made on social media rather than through formal council channels. Hook has formally written to the head of Kent Library Services seeking clarification on what materials are being removed.
Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections, gayexpress.co.nz
Reform UK-led Kent County Council replaces cabinet member Bill Barrett after less than seven weeks
Reform UK’s new administration at Kent County Council has replaced its first cabinet member less than seven weeks into the job.
Cllr Bill Barrett, who represents the Ashford Rural South division, stepped down from his place at the top table where he was in charge of highways and transport.
Reform UK-led Kent County Council replaces cabinet member Bill Barrett after less than seven weeks, kentonline.co.uk
Suspended Reform UK Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor appears in court accused of threats to kill wife
A councillor suspended by Reform UK has appeared in court accused of making threats to kill his wife.
Daniel Taylor, who now stands as an independent on Kent County Council, had the party whip withdrawn last month after being arrested on June 1.
Suspended Reform UK Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor appears in court accused of threats to kill wife, kentonline.co.uk
Council boss quits, leaving 18-year-old in charge
The recently elected leader of Warwickshire County Council has resigned, leaving his 18-year-old deputy in charge.
Reform UK councillor Rob Howard, who was in power for 41 days, said he had made the decision with “much regret”, citing health reasons were behind his departure.
Council boss quits, leaving 18-year-old in charge, BBC
Leicestershire social workers object to Reform policy they fear ‘promotes exclusion and marginalisation’
Removing these flags promotes exclusion and marginalisation – it implies people represented by those flags are not welcome
More than 100 Leicestershire social workers have spoken out against a new Reform UK policy they fear “promotes exclusion and marginalisation”. Their comments follow a decision by Reform to change which flags can fly at the Leicestershire County Council headquarters, in Glenfield.
The new policy means that community flags, such as the Pride flag and the disabled people’s flag, will not automatically be raised in the inner quadrangle at County Hall to celebrate events and celebration days. Instead, a decision will be taken by the chief executive “following consultation with the leader of the council”, the party’s Dan Harrison, over whether they can fly or not, leading some to fear they will not be flown going forward.
Some 102 social workers at the council have now written to councillors and the new Reform cabinet to “loudly” and “overwhelmingly” oppose the change in policy. They said they felt that flying community flags was a “vitally important” symbol from the council that it was “supportive of marginalised groups”.
Leicestershire social workers object to Reform policy they fear ‘promotes exclusion and marginalisation’, www.leicestermercury.co.uk
Police officer dismissed over basketball row now running as Reform UK candidate in Mendip by-election
A FORMER police officer who was dismissed after a “misuse of his position” in a row over a basketball is now standing as a Reform UK candidate in a council by-election.
Stuart Ball was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police in 2019 after a “ridiculous and disproportionate spat” with Sports Direct staff over a basketball which, a misconduct panel heard, culminated in him making criminal allegations against the store’s manager.
Mr Ball insisted he had not been treated fairly and the issue had been “blown out of proportion.”
Now he is hoping to be elected as the first Reform UK councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council in the by-election for the Mendip ward on July 3.
Police officer dismissed over basketball row now running as Reform UK candidate in Mendip by-election, www.mnrjournal.co.uk
Reform’s ‘Britannia cards’ will cost £34 billion
Speaking today at Church House in Westminster, Nigel Farage announced that Reform will introduce a ‘Britannia card’ that will let wealthy foreigners pay a £250,000 fee to move to the UK, and live here exempt from all tax on their foreign assets. The move is an attempt to win over ‘non-doms’ alienated by Labour and Conservative governments and bring their wealth back into the country.
The party says the policy will raise between £1.5 and £2.5 billion annually. Our analysis of the data suggests it is more likely to cost around £34 billion over five years.
Reform’s ‘Britannia cards’ will cost £34 billion, www.spectator.co.uk
‘Get Some Help’: David Lammy Mocks Reform MP For Repeating ‘Conspiracy Theory’ In Commons
David Lammy accused a Reform UK MP of “swallowing conspiracy theories” over a question she asked him in the House of Commons.
The foreign secretary told Sarah Pochin to “get some help” after she suggested the government’s controversial decision to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius had played a part in America’s plans for bombing Iran.
‘Get Some Help’: David Lammy Mocks Reform MP For Repeating ‘Conspiracy Theory’ In Commons, Huff Po
From Lawnmower Mishaps to Expenses Scandals: 10 Fresh Embarrassments for Reform UK
A week is a long time in politics and never has that been more the case than with Reform UK.
In recent weeks we’ve been closely following the party’s dozen councils they took control of back in May and detailing the many scandals, resignations, cancelled meetings and culture wars they have been getting themselves involved in.
After each piece we publish, we’ve been inundated with yet more examples of what’s been happening as Nigel Farage’s fledgling party meets the reality of actually managing local government, as well as holding ministers to account nationally.
Here’s a roundup of just some of what we’ve seen over the past week.
From Lawnmower Mishaps to Expenses Scandals: 10 Fresh Embarrassments for Reform UK, bylinetimes.com
Lammy urges Reform’s newest MP to ‘get some help’ over ‘conspiracy theories’
David Lammy has urged a Reform UK MP to “get some help” because she is “swallowing conspiracy theories”.
Sarah Pochin had asked the Foreign Secretary whether the US felt unable to use the UK-US airbase on Diego Garcia, following the Government’s deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.
Responding during a statement on the Middle East, Mr Lammy said the MP for Runcorn and Helsby should “get off social media”.
[…]
Mr Lammy replied: “The honourable lady has got (to) get off social media, has got to get some help… because she is swallowing conspiracy theories that should not be repeated in this House.”
Lammy urges Reform’s newest MP to ‘get some help’ over ‘conspiracy theories’