Fact Check: Did Reform UK Break Its Promises on Council Tax?
This fact check is part of Full Fact's ongoing work to verify claims surrounding the local elections, conducted by the UK's largest fact-checking charity dedicated to exposing and countering harmful misinformation.
Claims and Counterclaims
In recent months, both the Labour and Conservative parties have accused Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage MP, of breaking promises made during last year's local elections regarding council tax cuts in Reform-controlled councils. Mr Farage has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that he never explicitly promised to reduce council tax. Instead, Reform defends its record by highlighting that its councils have implemented lower council tax increases compared to other parties, with some delivering what it terms a "real terms tax cut" by raising rates below inflation levels.
Examining the Evidence
Full Fact's investigation found no direct evidence that Nigel Farage explicitly pledged to cut or freeze council tax. However, several local Reform candidates did make such promises during the 2025 campaign, including some who are now serving as councillors or leading local authorities, and these commitments have not yet been fulfilled.
This analysis focuses specifically on council tax in England, as local taxation is devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. All figures cited are based on Band D property rates set by upper-tier local authorities in England for the 2026/27 financial year, excluding parish precepts.
Did Nigel Farage Promise to Cut Council Tax?
Labour and the Conservatives have pointed to a Reform UK leaflet from the 2025 local election campaign featuring a pledge to "reduce waste and cut your taxes" alongside an image of Mr Farage. Additionally, the Conservatives referenced a speech by Mr Farage in March 2025 where he stated, "we will cut taxes." Neither of these references specifically mention council tax. While it might be reasonable to infer that tax cuts in a local election context imply council tax, there is evidence suggesting these pledges were intended for national-level policies if Reform were in government.
For instance, Mr Farage's speech on cutting taxes was part of a broader discussion about general election plans, immediately followed by a commitment to raise income tax thresholds—a matter not controlled by local authorities. Similarly, the leaflet's tax-cut promise was listed alongside national pledges like freezing immigration and scrapping Net Zero. Mr Farage clarified in March 2026 that all three commitments pertained to national policies. Full Fact contacted both Labour and the Conservatives for evidence of Mr Farage explicitly promising council tax cuts during the local campaign but received no response.
Local Candidates' Pledges
Although no evidence links Mr Farage directly to council tax cut promises, Full Fact identified multiple instances where local Reform candidates pledged to "cut" or "freeze" council tax during the 2025 elections. In North Northamptonshire, now under Reform control, a letter signed by three candidates—all current councillors, though one now sits as an independent—explicitly promised to "freeze council tax." In Leicestershire, council leader Dan Harrison stated after his election that Reform would "be able to cut council tax," though a spokesperson later noted their 2026/27 increase was the first in a decade not at the maximum rate.
Other examples include Durham council leader Andrew Husband expressing an ambition to avoid future increases, describing it as a goal rather than a firm commitment. He highlighted delivering the lowest council tax increase in 15 years, attributing partial success to external factors like National Insurance contributions. Leaflets from unelected candidates also promised to "fight to reduce council tax" or "freeze council tax & business rates," with one candidate asserting that "Reform Councils will freeze, then cut your council tax bills." Full Fact inquired whether these commitments were party-authorised but received no reply from Reform UK. Notably, the party's official X account shared a candidate's pledge to lower council tax, and leaflets featuring Mr Farage with text advocating for "lower council tax" circulated in various areas.
Actual Council Tax Outcomes
For the 2026/27 period, all upper-tier councils in England have increased council tax, with three-quarters raising it by the maximum allowable 4.99% without a referendum. None of the councils where Reform candidates explicitly pledged freezes or cuts have implemented them. Reform currently holds majority control in nine upper-tier authorities, with council tax increases ranging from 1.99% in Durham to 4.99% in North Northamptonshire. In three councils with Reform minority control, increases include 2.99% in Leicestershire and 8.98% in Worcestershire, the latter granted special permission to exceed the cap.
Doncaster City Council, nominally Labour-controlled under its mayor, saw a proposed 4.99% increase reduced to 2% via a Reform amendment. Based on a CPI inflation rate of around 3%, three Reform-controlled councils—Durham, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire—have achieved effective real-term decreases.
Comparison with Other Parties
Reform UK claims to have delivered the lowest average council tax increase among major parties, at 3.94%. This assertion holds true for upper-tier councils where one party has majority control. The nine Reform-majority councils increased Band D council tax by an average of 3.94%, below the overall average increase of 4.86% across all authorities.
