Reform UK has claimed to have saved £331 million since taking control of 10 English councils in May, but the party has repeatedly refused to share evidence for the figure, prompting experts to question its validity. The party’s cost-cutting unit, dubbed ‘Doge’, led by Richard Tice, has boasted of savings from IT deals, office moves, and scrapping electric vehicle (EV) transition plans.
However, analysis of the claimed savings reveals discrepancies. For example, Reform’s decision to cancel a £7.5 million EV fleet transition in Kent was presented as a saving, but council officials calculated that the switch would have saved up to £100,000 per year. Green councillor Stuart Heaver called the claim “bogus”, noting it assumes the vehicles would not need replacement. The transition was also a future project, with £5 million not due for spending until 2029-30, leading Liberal Democrat leader Antony Hook to remark: “It’s quite easy to ‘cut’ spending you weren’t planning to make for three years.”
Local government experts say Reform faces limits on cuts. Stuart Hoddinott of the Institute for Government noted that not buying EVs is a short-term move that could store up future costs, as old vehicles require maintenance. Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics added that Reform’s focus on eliminating diversity programmes yields only tiny savings, and that council budget plans under Reform are similar to those of Labour and Conservative councils.
When the described savings are totalled, there remains an unexplained shortfall of £260 million. Reform’s press team promised a full list but has not provided it despite repeated requests. The party has warned of a “blob” of vested interests, but experts argue that councils have already faced austerity and that further cuts risk significant trade-offs in services.
