Reform-led councils in ‘paralysis’ as dozens of meetings cancelled in first weeks
Reform UK councils in ‘shambles’ as newly elected councillors fail to show up
- Reform UK gained control of nine councils and minority control in three more in May's local elections, but opposition councillors claim the party's organisation and productivity have been a "shambles" since.
- Across the 12 Reform-controlled councils, 33 meetings have been cancelled or postponed in the first nine weeks since the election, and at least 21 Reform councillors have missed their first meetings.
- In Kent, nine out of 22 scheduled meetings have been cancelled since the election, including legally required meetings like the governance and audit committee.
- An opposition councillor in Kent, Rich Lehmann, said the cancellations were "shocking" and questioned Reform's ability to lead the council, while Sam Smith, leader of the Conservatives in Nottinghamshire, called the start "shambolic."
- Reform UK councillors have reportedly cancelled meetings to reschedule them when more prepared, while Nottinghamshire Council’s new Reform leader Mick Barton dismissed the criticisms as "political rhetoric from the opposition."