Council officers in areas now under Reform UK control have drawn up secret battle plans to defend services from cuts and instability, according to a leaked confidential briefing seen by The Mirror. The document, circulated among staff in the 14 councils that fell to the party in this year’s local elections, shares tips for managing newly elected Reform councillors and warns of national party interference.
The briefing claims that directions on council tax levels, flag policies, councillors’ portfolios and public statements have “originated not from elected local leaders, but from national party advisers, MPs, or social media directives”. It states that inexperienced local leaders often feel obliged to comply with national instructions, unaware of their legal independence. The report draws on experiences from the 10 councils Reform took over last year and warns of a potential staff exodus.
Behind the scenes, some staff are preparing to quietly rebrand policies such as Net Zero and equalities work using less politically charged language to keep projects alive. “Climate change” becomes “environmental stewardship” or “resilience”, while DEI work is reframed as “fairness” or “community cohesion”. The document cites one Reform council that ended up delivering more environmental work than under any previous administration thanks to this approach.
Another council leadership team reportedly “stood firm” after Reform headquarters pressured it to reduce council tax “below a financially sustainable level”. The result, the document says, “was robust and earned the council respect”. However, it notes that “instability is common”, with decisions agreed mid-week potentially shifting after a national call at the weekend. Campaign pledges such as “zero council tax rises” and “ending Net Zero spending” have been hit by “governing reality”.
Senior staff are advised to “share intelligence” and “record advice meticulously”. If a decision is made against officer advice, staff should ensure it is documented to protect the governance trail. The briefing also stresses that professionalism and safety at work are non-negotiable, and that inappropriate behaviour by members should be acted upon visibly. One senior council director told the Mirror that morale at their authority had reached “rock bottom” since Reform’s election victory.
The concerns come as councils face one of the biggest restructuring shake-ups in local government history, with around a third of reorganised areas now under Reform control. Hundreds of officers are expected to lose their jobs during the transition. The leaked document highlights the tensions arising between local and national interests, and the challenges of managing Reform administrations.
