Council Officers Leak Secret Battle Plans Against Reform UK
A confidential document circulating among council staff in areas now controlled by Reform UK has revealed a coordinated effort to defend public services from potential cuts and political chaos. The leaked briefing, obtained by The Mirror, outlines strategies for dealing with what it describes as inexperienced local leaders who may be influenced by national party directives rather than local needs.
The paper, based on insights from the 10 councils Reform took over last year, warns of staff exodus but highlights successful examples of preserving programmes the party sought to scrap. It advises officers to reframe controversial policies in less politically charged language, such as replacing “climate change” with “environmental stewardship” or “resilience,” and rebranding Net Zero initiatives as flood prevention or environmental maintenance. Similarly, DEI work becomes “fairness” or “community cohesion.”
According to the document, one Reform council actually delivered more environmental work than under any previous administration thanks to this approach. It also cites a case where a council leadership team “stood firm” against pressure from Reform headquarters to reduce council tax below a financially sustainable level, earning respect for their robustness.
Tensions and Instability
The paper notes “tensions” across different tiers of local government, including between county councils and mayors, leaders and backbenchers, and within administrations themselves as loyalty to local community interests diverges from national party messaging. “Instability is common,” it states, “Expect the possibility that decisions agreed mid-week will shift after a national call at the weekend.”
Campaign pledges such as “zero council tax rises,” stripping out DEI policies, ending Net Zero spending, and clamping down on working from home were quickly hit by “governing reality.” The document reminds staff that council tax is capped by law, statutory duties apply regardless of political composition, budget gaps do not close through ideology, and planning decisions must follow process.
Advice for Officers
Senior staff are advised to “share intelligence” and “record advice meticulously.” They should note when and how direction changes and document decisions made against officer advice to protect the governance trail. The paper also stresses that professionalism, dignity, and safety at work are non-negotiable, regardless of political preference.
Many local government staff are deeply uneasy about Reform taking control, as senior party figures have portrayed public-sector bureaucrats as adversaries. At Reform’s conference last year, Greater Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns praised fellow mayor Luke Campbell for cutting around a dozen jobs within months. One senior council director told The Mirror morale had hit “rock bottom” since Reform’s election victory.
Broader Context
These concerns come amid one of the biggest restructuring shake-ups in local government history. Twenty county areas are undergoing reorganisation, with county, borough, and district councils set to be abolished and replaced by new unitary authorities. Around a third of these areas are now under Reform control. Hundreds of officers are expected to lose their jobs, and some in Reform-run areas are already jumping ship early, adding to instability.
The paper predicts some staff will resign even where their jobs are not at risk because they cannot tolerate the political environment, describing this as “a legitimate response to a real situation.” Notably, this year’s local elections saw a rise in councils under no overall control, with around 42 per cent of English councils lacking a single-party majority. The paper claims Reform councillors have often behaved obstructively in opposition, refusing to attend development days or workshops and acting as “disruptors” on committees.
