Reform UK, under the spotlight since its striking success in the 2025 local elections, presents an intriguing case study of a party transitioning from insurgent protest to practical governance. Securing control of 10 English local authorities and 677 council seats—more than any other party—Reform now manages councils serving over 8 million residents. This milestone reflects a seismic shift in local political dynamics, with the party enjoying a projected vote share of around 30%, surpassing the Conservative and Labour parties in these contests for the first time.
Yet, this rapid ascent from outsider to authority brings to light the formidable challenges the party faces in translating bold promises into effective administration. Reform’s local leadership, notably Mandel Linden Kemkaran in Kent, their flagship council, has weathered substantial internal conflicts. A leaked video revealing Kemkaran swearing at party councillors has underscored tensions that many perceive as symptomatic of a wider struggle within the party to maintain discipline and cohesion. Five Reform councillors have been expelled amid factional disputes, amplifying scrutiny over the party’s readiness to govern on a larger scale.
Central to Reform’s platform is the ambition to dramatically curb public spending waste, inspired by Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the US. The party formed its own DOGE unit, promising extensive audits and projected savings in the hundreds of millions of pounds. Reform claims to have halted costly projects like new office moves and net-zero initiatives, aiming to redirect resources more efficiently. However, experts caution that these savings are minimal in the context of the enormous financial pressures local authorities face, especially in statutory services like adult social care and children’s services, which consume upwards of 69% of council budgets—an increase over the past decade.
Financial realities further complicate Reform’s vision. The party operates within a ‘broken’ local government funding system, replete with stretched statutory obligations and diminishing resources. Councils led by Reform are confronting substantial budget gaps—Lancashire faces a £100 million shortfall over two years, West Northamptonshire £50 million, and Worcestershire is contemplating a council tax rise as steep as 10%. Although Reform leaders such as Richard Tice and Zia Yusuf emphasise attempts to keep council tax increases modest and aligned with inflation, these potential hikes mark a departure from the party’s rhetoric on cutting the tax burden.
Critics argue that Reform’s cultural war stances—such as scrapping diversity equity and inclusion programmes and refusing to display Pride flags—serve more as political theatre than solutions to fiscal challenges. Observers also note that many of these cost-cutting measures risk undermining longer-term savings or service quality.
Looking beyond local government, Reform’s future hinges on how well it manages these practical governance issues. Nigel Farage has already withdrawn earlier promises of £90 billion in tax cuts annually, now acknowledging the dire state of the UK’s public finances. Academics and economists stress the difficulty of achieving substantial savings quickly, especially amid entrenched structural problems. The party’s struggle to reconcile ambitious national pledges with local realities may foreshadow difficulties at Downing Street, should Reform secure power.
Polling data shows Reform maintaining around 30% support versus below 20% for Labour and Conservatives, positioning it as a formidable parliamentary contender for the 2029 general election. Yet, political analysts suggest that voters’ motivations for backing Reform—primarily concerns over immigration and dissatisfaction with mainstream parties—may insulate the party somewhat from critiques of its local governance record. Nonetheless, any significant failures in councils—such as crises in social care or operational bankruptcies—could dent Reform’s appeal.
In sum, Reform UK’s first six months of governing local councils portray a party simultaneously galvanised by electoral success and grappling with governance complexity. Its ambitious cost-cutting agenda faces legal and practical hurdles, and its internal divisions underscore the challenge of transitioning from insurrection to stable administration. Whether this insurgent force can mature into a disciplined, credible government remains to be seen, as it confronts the same budgetary pressures and service demands that have beleaguered its predecessors.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (BBC) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
- [2] (Reuters) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
- [3] (Commons Library) - Paragraph 1
- [4] (Wikipedia 2025 UK local elections) - Paragraph 1
- [5] (Evening Standard) - Paragraph 1
- [7] (Wikipedia Linden Kemkaran) - Paragraph 2, 3
Source: Noah Wire Services