Reform marks six months of “broken promises” according to High Peak MP 

Reform UK is marking six months since its local election wins in May - but critics say there’s little to celebrate, accusing the party of failing to deliver on its pledges.

Voters in counties including Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire placed their trust in Nigel Farage’s candidates earlier this year, handing the party control over key local services. But six months on, Reform councillors are being accused of breaking promises and mismanaging council resources. 

The party campaigned on cutting costs and reducing council tax, but critics point out that those commitments appear to have faltered. In Lincolnshire, Reform’s Mayor has reportedly called for a pay rise on her £86,000 salary, while Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council is paying out £500,000 to operate two headquarters. Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council – also led by Reform – has increased its chief executive’s pay to more than £200,000, despite previously campaigning against high salaries. 

The promise to cut council tax is also in doubt, with Reform leaders in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire admitting that a rise may be necessary next year. 

Reform has also faced criticism for a series of costly by-elections caused by councillor resignations, including one who stepped down just a week after being elected. 

High Peak MP Jon Pearce said residents were seeing “chaotic leadership” from Reform where the party had taken control. In a statement he said: 

“As a Derbyshire MP, I have seen first-hand what happens when Reform have to actually run things. When trying to get elected they made out governing was easy. It was all just common sense. Well, all their promises have turned out to be nonsense. Every council they run ends up with the same story – rising costs, broken promises and chaotic leadership.

"You cannot promise to cut council tax and cut costs and then admit you did not understand how it all worked when you made those promises. People rely on their councils to fix roads, support families and keep essential services going, not to make excuses. Reform’s councillors are learning the hard way that slogans do not fill potholes or balance budgets.” 

In response, Reform County Councillor for Buxton, Melandra Smith has spoken out in support of Reform, saying: “I find Jon Pearce's comments about Reform county councillors both tiresomely predictable and depressingly disingenuous - we are tackling the Herculean task of righting decades of political incompetence with our eyes wide open - and our voters are cheering us every step of the way.”