Reform UK has claimed to have saved £331m since taking control of 10 English councils in May, but the party has refused to share evidence for the figure, prompting questions over its accuracy. The party's 'Doge' cost-cutting unit, led by Richard Tice, has boasted of a war against a 'blob' of vested interests 'ripping off' taxpayers.
However, analysis of the claimed savings reveals questionable examples. In some cases, credit is taken for initiatives already started by predecessors. When the described savings are totalled, there remains an unexplained shortfall of £260m. Reform's press team repeatedly promised to provide a full list but has not done so despite numerous requests.
Local government experts argue that councils face limits on cuts without significant trade-offs. Stuart Hoddinott of the Institute for Government said Reform 'are not coming into this at a point where everyone else has sat idly by'. Prof Tony Travers of the London School of Economics noted that their council leaders inherited the same austerity legacy as predecessors, and that eliminating diversity programmes, a Reform focus, 'were never more than tiny amounts of money'.
Specific savings claims are disputed. In Kent, Reform leader Linden Kemkaran claimed savings by cancelling a £7.5m electric vehicle fleet transition. But council officials say the switch would save up to £100,000 per year, and the transition was not due until 2029-30. Green councillor Stuart Heaver called the claim 'bogus', as it assumes no replacement vehicles are needed. Liberal Democrat leader Antony Hook said it is 'quite easy to cut spending you weren't planning to make for three years'.
In Staffordshire, Reform announced that new electric vehicle charging points would be 'refocused' from town streets to public car parks. However, no agreement has been reached on whether the money from a central government grant will be returned. The IfG's Hoddinott warned that such short-term moves could store up future costs, such as maintaining older vehicles.
