Reform UK Takes Control of Councils, Farage Urges Climate Staff to Seek Other Roles

Following a sweeping victory in local elections, Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has taken control of several county councils, including Staffordshire and Durham, ending longstanding Conservative and Labour leadership in these areas. Farage has announced plans for significant cuts to council spending, targeting roles related to climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion, and remote work, urging staff in these positions to seek alternative employment. He emphasized a shift towards focusing on basic council functions and delivering better value for taxpayers, drawing parallels to Trump-style budget cuts in the US. Farage and his party have framed these results as a landmark political shift, claiming it marks the end of two-party dominance and the beginning of a new era in British politics. Experts and opposition leaders warn, however, that council budgets are already stretched thin, with most spending tied to legally required services. The reactions from Labour and Conservative leaders acknowledge the need for renewal and change in response to these electoral upsets.