Reform-run West Northamptonshire is removing all references to ‘climate change’ and ‘net zero’ from official documents, yet continuing to take government green grants
The Reform UK-run council in West Northamptonshire is systematically removing all references to climate change and net zero from its strategies, website and documents, Byline Times can reveal – while simultaneously continuing to take Government cash for green projects.
The move follows the council scrapping its net zero targets, in a controversial decision last Wednesday that sparked local protests. The news was announced in an article in The Telegraph – around two hours before the actual decision had been voted on.
Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government, bylinetimes.com
Month: July 2025
Reform UK votes for cabinet-led review of flags that can be flown at County Hall
A row has broken out over Reform UK’s plans to limit the type of flags flown over Lancashire County Council’s headquarters.
The authority’s ruling group voted to launch a cabinet-led review of the symbols that can be raised at County Hall in Preston.
However, the party has already nailed its preferences to the mast, claiming that the proposed changes are designed to unify all Lancastrians under the banners of Lancashire and the UK – regardless of other aspects of their identity.
But opposition groups noted that the Pride flag, representing the LGBT community, would be the principal casualty of the rethink – and accused Reform of engaging in a culture war.
Reform UK votes for cabinet-led review of flags that can be flown at County Hall, blogpreston.co.uk
Reform UK councillor expelled from party
A Reform UK councillor who was elected to Devon County Council in May has been expelled from the party.
Reform UK said it had expelled Ed Hill for publishing a letter about free school meals in the name of all Reform Devon councillors without their consent.
Reform UK councillor expelled from party, BBC
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election
The Conservatives have won back Eccleshall & Gnosall on Staffordshire County Council
Reform UK has lost one of the Staffordshire County Council seats it won on May 1 – just 78 days after that landslide victory. Reform UK swept to power in May after winning 49 of the 62 Staffordshire County Council divisions.
But a by-election was triggered just days later after offensive social media posts from Councillor Wayne Titley led to his resignation. Now the Conservatives have regained Eccleshall & Gnosall following this morning’s election result.
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election, stokesentinel.co.uk
Reform MP’s questionable claims about street problems anger residents
Angry residents have criticised their MP after she claimed their street had been blighted by violence and anti-social behaviour caused by illegal immigration.
Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire, said in a video posted on Facebook she had received “disturbing reports” from residents and businesses about incidents happening in Greenway Road, Runcorn.
Residents said this portrayal of their street was “untrue” while Cheshire Constabulary said it had received no such reports.
MP’s claims about street problems anger residents, BBC
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over appalling living conditions of her rental flat
An Isle of Wight housing committee councillor who was previously hit with warning notices over the state of a flat she rented out came under fire this week.
At Wednesday evening’s full council meeting, Reform UK’s new Central Rural representative Caroline Gladwin was the subject of a member question directed at Councillor Clare Mosdell, Conservative chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee.
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over ‘appalling living conditions’ of her rental flat, On The Wight
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war
Reform UK is mounting an Elon Musk-inspired bid to slash state “waste.” The fireworks have already begun.
MAIDSTONE, England — Half an hour into a Kent County Council meeting, council leader Linden Kemkaran has already taken aim at trans women in a “wig and a skirt” and migrants “invading” Britain.
This is the Garden of England — home to farmers, commuters, vineyards, seaside poverty, rich London escapees, and the beaches where tens of thousands of migrants have landed in inflatable dinghies — and it now belongs to Reform UK.
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war, politico.eu
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business…
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum
Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business, subcommittees were cancelled, Reform UK councillors failed to sign their declaration of acceptance of office, others failed to complete their register of interests and the planning committee’s work was on hold after half the Reform UK members failed to turn up for their statutory training that qualifies them to take planning decisions.
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum, morningstaronline.co.uk
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council
The interim leader of Warwickshire County Council has defended plans to bring in political assistants costing up to £190,000 per year in the face of outrage from other parties.
Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) confirmed he had instigated the proposals that will be considered by all councillors next week.
They would see the biggest three parties at Shire Hall – Reform, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives – have a dedicated council officer to “undertake research and provide administrative support to members of political groups in the discharge of any of their (council) functions”, although the Lib Dems have spoken out to object to the idea.
National legislation allows councils to employ up to three people, one for each of the council’s three biggest groups provided they have at least 10 per cent of the seats available.
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire World
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration
It was reported on 16 July that County Durham council, presently dominated by Reform UK, is now thought to have become the first council in the country, to revoke its climate declaration. In its place the council has declared a care emergency.
Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader of Durham County Council and a former presenter on GB News was reported as saying: “We are done with expensive virtue signalling tripe and care about our residents,” and was also noted as saying that the ongoing social care crisis is the “most urgent threat to the well-being of our children and the financial stability of our county”
It was also said that the previous council had approved an environment pledge aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2045 running alongside the current Climate Emergency Response Plan.
Another Reform councillor, Andrew Husband seemed to hint that global warming would be a good thing as: “During the Roman-occupied era not far away from County Durham, around 45AD, there is evidence of Roman vineyards along Hadrian’s Wall. This is because the Roman period in Britain is known for having a relatively warm climate which would have been conducive to growing grapes. Mind, how the climate has changed”
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration, northeastbylines.co.uk
‘No Such Thing as a Free Lunch’: Opposition Outcry over Reform’s Secretive DOGE Unit
Councillors have raised the alarm over West Northamptonshire’s controversial deal with Reform’s Musk-inspired DOGE team.
Councillors in West Northamptonshire last night slammed Reform UK’s plan to access council data as part of a drive that it claims is intended to reduce local “fraud and waste”.
In a key test of Reform’s battle to access data from councils, West Northamptonshire became the first to welcome unnamed and unpaid “experts” from the party’s ‘DOGE’ unit into the council to find ways to cut its budget.
The council says it will reserve the right to stop DOGE from accessing restricted personal information, and will vet the members of Reform’s unit to ensure they have relevant qualifications. However, opposition councillors protested against the proposal in local cabinet meeting last night.
‘No Such Thing as a Free Lunch’: Opposition Outcry over Reform’s Secretive DOGE Unit, desmog.com
Reform UK council leaders divert so-called ‘Net Stupid Zero’ cash to tackle flooding
One opposition councillor claimed decisions were being based on ‘allusions to the Roman Empire’
Millions of pounds are to be reallocated from council efforts to fight climate change. Leicestershire County Council’s new Reform UK leaders voted this week to divert £2 million from carbon reduction initiatives into efforts to mitigate flooding and other severe weather events.
Reform UK council leaders divert so-called ‘Net Stupid Zero’ cash to tackle flooding, leicestermercury.co.uk
Reform UK expels Devon councillor who ‘crossed the line’
Reform UK has expelled one of its own Devon councillors from the party over a row about a letter being sent without consent.
Devon County councillor Ed Hill, (Pinhoe & Mincinglake), has been kicked out over claims by the party that he distributed a letter on free school meals to MPs and the media purportedly signed by 17 Reform councillors.
Reform UK expels Devon councillor who ‘crossed the line’, Devon Live
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it
Reform UK has received millions of pounds in donations from climate deniers and fossil fuel sources, so it is not a surprise that Nigel Farage wants to make net zero the “next Brexit”.
The party is especially opposed to green energy projects in Lincolnshire, where senior figures have spoken out against solar panel farms — large installations of renewable electricity in the countryside.
Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy chair and the MP for Boston and Skegness, promised that his Lincolnshire colleagues would oppose solar farms “every step of the way”. “Reform control the Mayoralty and County Council in Lincolnshire with myself as local MP,” he wrote on X. “If you are thinking of investing in solar farms, battery storage systems, or trying to build pylons, think again.”
Which makes it all a bit embarrassing that on Monday, two of Reform’s top councillors missed an important date to discuss a new solar panel project.
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it, Hope Not Hate
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months
Move comes hours after Zia Yusuf, the party’s efficiency tsar, had criticised former home secretary
Suella Braverman’s husband has quit Reform UK six months after joining.
Rael Braverman issued a short statement on X, saying: “I have left Reform effective immediately.”
It came hours after Zia Yusuf, the Reform efficiency tsar, had criticised Mrs Braverman, the former home secretary, on the same platform.
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months, telegraph.co.uk
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty
Analysis of polling data shows party competes directly with Labour in poorer heartlands
Support for Reform UK has surged in areas with higher rates of child poverty, underlining the rightwing populist party’s potential to connect with disillusioned voters in Labour’s heartlands.
A Financial Times analysis of election projections by pollster More in Common shows the vast majority of constituencies where Reform is expected to perform well have higher than average child poverty rates.
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty, Financial Times
Why Reform Has Split in Three
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals
Inviting failed candidates to try again under lax rules suggests that they are either struggling to recruit candidates, or something more sinister.
Reform UK has told its members in Kent it will relax vetting rules, and is ‘strongly’ encouraging prospective candidates who previously failed vetting to reapply.
[…]
The move to water down the party’s vetting process comes despite ongoing candidate scandals. Daniel Taylor, a Reform councillor in Thanet, was recently charged with threatening to kill his wife. Reform withdrew the whip after he was charged.
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals, leftfootforward.org
Reform UK to introduce less stringent ‘common sense’ vetting system for candidates
Party says those who previously failed vetting are ‘strongly encouraged’ to reapply under new criteria
Reform UK has told its members it is introducing a less stringent “common sense” vetting system for would-be candidates after complaints the previous checks were too strict, despite a recent series of controversies linked to the party.
Reform UK to introduce less stringent ‘common sense’ vetting system for candidates, The Guardian
Reform councillor quits two months after election
A Reform UK councillor has resigned just two months after being elected to Doncaster Council.
Samuel Booth was elected in the Bentley ward alongside Reform’s Rebecca Booth and Labour’s James Church at the May elections.
Reform councillor quits two months after election, BBC
Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections
Kent County Council, led by the Reform UK party, has announced the removal of all books featuring transgender themes from the children’s sections of its libraries—a move that has sparked significant backlash and concern.
The council’s leader, Linden Kemkaran, revealed the decision via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 2 July. “Another victory for #commonsenseinKent,” she wrote. “My brilliant cabinet member Cllr Paul Webb has just got this trans material REMOVED from the children’s sections of all Kent’s libraries. Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.”
The announcement did not include details on which specific titles or materials were removed, nor how many books are affected. Kent County Council oversees 99 community libraries and operates five mobile library vans.
Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader in the council, criticised the announcement as both “vague” and “bizarre”, particularly as it was made on social media rather than through formal council channels. Hook has formally written to the head of Kent Library Services seeking clarification on what materials are being removed.
Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections, gayexpress.co.nz
Reform UK-led Kent County Council replaces cabinet member Bill Barrett after less than seven weeks
Reform UK’s new administration at Kent County Council has replaced its first cabinet member less than seven weeks into the job.
Cllr Bill Barrett, who represents the Ashford Rural South division, stepped down from his place at the top table where he was in charge of highways and transport.
Reform UK-led Kent County Council replaces cabinet member Bill Barrett after less than seven weeks, kentonline.co.uk
Kent DOLTS: First with the year old public KCC report…
This hot in from the Reform UK Kent DOLTS (Department Of Looking Terminally Stupid) team, presumably the first outcome of their clever, clever AI deep dive into the top secret numbers from their interrogation on Monday.
Except it’s no such thing. This is a direct read from a KCC report to KCC Audit Committee in May 2024 (so it’s over a year old, talking about older things) which Kent’s processes and audit found, reported, made public, discussed and sought to improve.
Kent DOLTS: First with the year old public KCC report…, Tim Prater, fhld.uk
Suspended Reform UK Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor appears in court accused of threats to kill wife
A councillor suspended by Reform UK has appeared in court accused of making threats to kill his wife.
Daniel Taylor, who now stands as an independent on Kent County Council, had the party whip withdrawn last month after being arrested on June 1.
Suspended Reform UK Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor appears in court accused of threats to kill wife, kentonline.co.uk
Reform councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections was a lie
Paul Webb said he ensured books and material were pulled from children’s section of Kent libraries, but it emerges they were never there
A boast by a Reform UK councillor that he ensured the removal of “trans-ideological material and books” from the children’s section of his county’s libraries has fallen flat after it emerged that no such material ever existed there.
Reform councillor’s boast about removing ‘trans-ideological’ books from children’s library sections falls flat, theguardian.com
Backlash as Reform claims trans books removed from children’s library section
A council leader has been criticised after claiming the authority had removed transgender-related books from the children’s sections of its libraries.
In a post on social media, Kent County Council’s Reform UK leader Linden Kemkaran said the books were to be removed with immediate effect in a “victory for common sense in Kent”.
However, the council said a single transgender-related book aimed at adults was relocated from a display at the entrance of a library to a section unlikely to be visited by children.
Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford Tristian Osbourne has called the alleged removal of the books “unedifying gender baiting of the LGBT community”.
Backlash as Reform claims trans books removed from children’s library section, BBC
Reform UK hires ex-Tory MP who was suspended for using racist language
Anne Marie Morris, twice suspended while an MP between 2010 and 2024, will lead Reform’s social care policy
Reform UK has hired a former Conservative MP who was suspended for using the N-word.
Anne Marie Morris, who had the whip withdrawn by Theresa May in 2017 for using the term in a debate about Brexit, will lead Reform’s social care policy. She is one of several ex-Tories who have defected to Nigel Farage’s party.
Morris had used the phrase “[N-word] in the woodpile” in an event at the East India Club, and apologised after the remarks came to light. She had the whip returned to her six months later – one day before a crucial Brexit vote for the then-government.
Reform UK hires ex-Tory MP who was suspended for using racist language, The Guardian
