Fresh off a wave of local election wins that shocked the political establishment, Nigel Farage is already making bold—and controversial—promises.
The Reform UK leader took to County Durham, a place that had been a Labour stronghold for nearly a century, to lay out his post-election plans.
And let’s just say, they’re not subtle.
From sweeping cuts to council budgets to a Trump-inspired vision of slashing “woke” government jobs, Farage is setting the tone for what Reform-run councils could look like—and it’s stirring serious debate.
Farage Vows to Shut the Door on Migrant Housing in Reform Areas
In his speech, Farage bluntly declared that Reform-led councils would “resist” housing asylum seekers.
He claimed the North of England was being unfairly burdened, alleging migrants were being “dumped” there and “getting everything for free.”
He didn’t hold back, saying: “It is unfair, it is irresponsible, it is wrong in every way, and I don’t believe Starmer has got the guts to deal with it.”
But here’s the catch—housing asylum seekers is controlled by the Home Office, not local councils.
So it’s unclear how much actual power Reform councils would have to block migrants from being housed in their areas.
Climate, Diversity and Work-from-Home Jobs Now in the Crosshairs
In County Durham, where Reform now has council control, Farage sent a chilling message to certain council employees: start looking for “alternative careers very, very quickly.”
He targeted workers in climate change and diversity roles, as well as those who work remotely.
In his view, those jobs are unnecessary expenses, and he promised swift action to “cut the fat.”
But experts say there’s not much left to slash. Council budgets have already been squeezed dry, with most of their money legally committed to essential services like adult social care and child protection.
Farage Takes Inspiration from Trump and Elon Musk’s Efficiency Obsession
Farage also nodded to his admiration for American politics—particularly Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
He wants to bring a Musk-style “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to Britain, modeled after the one Trump created.
His pitch? Bring in auditors, break expensive long-term contracts, and stop councils from spending millions on consultants and remote workers.
He admits it won’t fix everything overnight, but he insists it’ll be “a good start.”
Experts Warn Essential Services Could Pay the Price
Not everyone’s buying into Farage’s efficiency dream.
Jonathon Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, warned that many councils are already on the brink.
Most of their spending goes to services they’re legally required to provide, like helping elderly people with medication or protecting vulnerable children.
“These are literally life-or-death issues,” Carr-West said.
“We’re talking about keeping people alive, not optional extras.”
He also pointed out that many councils are dealing with £100 million-plus debt and massive funding shortfalls.
While it might sound appealing to cut costs in less critical areas, he said it’s just not “realistic” to think major savings can be found there.
Freedom of Information Reveals Unusual Spending… But Is It Really the Issue?
Farage’s team recently made several Freedom of Information requests, digging into how councils spend their money.
They found some eyebrow-raising items—free driving lessons for asylum seekers, civil servant trips to the South of France, and even a £1,000-a-day pothole consultant.
They also took aim at diversity officers and net-zero projects.
But Carr-West pushed back, saying not much money is actually spent on those things—and in some cases, councils are legally required to have diversity initiatives under the Equality Act.
Reform’s Victory Sends Shockwaves Through British Politics
This all comes in the wake of what’s being dubbed the “Reform-quake.”
The Conservatives lost every single council—676 seats in total—as voters swung toward Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats. Labour didn’t escape unscathed either, losing 186 seats.
Reform gained control of councils across Kent, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lancashire.
They even picked up a new MP, Sarah Pochin, in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election, and scored their first-ever metro mayor in Greater Lincolnshire, with former Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
Farage’s Confidence Grows as Reform Tops Projected Vote Share
With Reform projected to hold a 30% national vote share—outpacing Labour at 20%, the Lib Dems at 17%, and the Tories at 15%—Farage is more confident than ever.
Mocked in the past for declaring he’d one day be Prime Minister, he couldn’t help but fire back with a grin: “They’re not laughing now, are they?”
Looking Ahead: Can Reform Deliver or Just Stir the Pot?
As Reform steps into new territory with actual power over local councils, the question remains—can they truly deliver meaningful change, or are they setting up for more political chaos?
With bold pledges and divisive rhetoric, Farage is playing a high-stakes game.
And whether you agree with him or not, one thing’s for sure: British local politics just got a whole lot more dramatic.
