Reform UK’s local government boss sent a dossier of internal policy and guidance papers to independent and Conservative Isle of Wight councillors by mistake.
The accidental circulation
Ex-Conservative MP Ben Bradley, head of local government delivery at Reform, circulated an email to 12 Reform Island councillors, Isle of Wight Conservative chief Ed Blake and six independents.
The communication “reiterates apologies” that “there hasn’t been enough support or engagement from Reform HQ up to this point”.
Policy priorities outlined in leaked documents
Policies in the documents include reintroducing prayers or the national anthem at council meetings, realigning financial support for events away from ‘other cultures’ and in to ‘Christian/English events’, and scrapping spending on ‘damaging’ Net Zero and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programmes.
Councillors told press are ‘not on your side’
Among guidance points in one briefing, Councillor Induction, representatives are told to remember the press are ‘not on your side’ and that communication, policy, decision making and campaigning all need to be ‘done as one’.
The document says that in response to being contacted by the media, representatives should ensure they notify their group leadership and subsequently Reform HQ.
Financial efficiency and automation focus
Another paper, Reform UK Financial Resilience Toolkit, says,
“Review opportunities for asset consolidation and rationalisation. If it’s not needed, don’t keep it.”
It also states that long-term financial sustainability will not be achieved by ‘cutting services alone’ and includes key actions such as identifying processes suitable for automation and AI deployment, reducing manual financial, HR and customer service transactions and introducing self-service wherever appropriate.
Conservative leader’s concerns about party competence
Councillor Blake told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he is concerned that such a “simple blunder” of not knowing who the Reform councillors are from their national control shows “just how incompetent the party is”.
He said,
“The email contents makes interesting reading; instructions include installing the singing of the national anthem at council meetings, suggesting individuals don’t take to social media in case they say something that embarrasses the party and insisting all media enquiries are sent to Reform’s national headquarters instead of using their own judgement.
“These rules and many others in these documents are not the priority of residents, nor do they install confidence in the individual councillors’ capabilities to accurately communicate with their constituents.
“As a Conservative representative, my competence is assessed before being allowed to stand as a candidate; this allows me to exercise freewill as the party is confident in my abilities to act properly in the interest of fellow residents.
“This is the same for all mainstream parties, conversely these documents show Reform’s internal awareness of that lack of confidence in their representatives.
“I believe Islanders want councillors who represent them and the Island, not those who have to slavishly follow national party politics and agendas.”
Reform UK’s response
A Reform UK spokesman told the LDRS the party supports its councils and councillors to deliver efficiency and good local services in line with the platform they were elected on.
They said Reform is proud of its record in local government and claimed this has seen hundreds of millions of pounds saved for local taxpayers and the lowest council tax rate amongst every party in the country last year.
Mr Bradley has so far declined to comment.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
