The far-right party Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party), took control of ten local councils in last year’s local elections. In the upcoming elections this May, they could take the reins of even more.
In less than a year, Reform-led councils have already ditched their promises to working people. In Derbyshire, Reform are hiking council tax by 5% and in Kent, it’s going up by 4%. In Nottinghamshire, Reform UK has already splashed £75,000 of taxpayer money on putting up 164 Union Jack flags.
In response to last year’s local election results, UNISON has seen a surge in new union joiners who are worried about the impact that a Reform-run council might have on their community. In the areas where Reform performed strongly in local elections, the number of new union joiners has shot up by 272%.
Chris Birks, who works on UNISON’s Responding to Reform elections campaign says: “Reform UK’s agenda is a direct threat to our family and friends. Working-class communities are being sold a con by political chancers with no real plan to run vital services, who fall back on stunts, culture-war distractions and taxpayer-funded union flags when they’ve got nothing to deliver.”
Recognising the sense of exhaustion and defeat that many people are feeling right now, Chris added: “If good people do nothing, our neighbourhoods will become poorer and weaker. UNISON activists must stand up and be counted – especially in local government, where these cuts will hit hardest.”
In Derbyshire, Reform UK have declared they plan to cut 2,000 local council jobs and will give a private company £5 million to ‘investigate’ where they can cut more.
Chris continued, “it is important to take steps in taking on Reform UK, cutting through the slogans and telling the truth. Trade union power lives in our branches and workplaces – where trusted colleagues inform, educate and organise. ”
Beyond their broken promises to local communities, Reform UK has been in the headlines for its members using racist slurs and inciting violence against migrants. One Putin-supporting candidate called Hitler ‘brilliant’.
The far-right party have also repeatedly voted against the Employment Rights Bill and have declared a plan to replace the NHS with an American-style private health system run on insurance. The party have not clarified what would happen to health workers’ jobs, and workers’ rights.
Although Reform UK have attracted the support of people fed up with all
political parties, it’s clear from what they say and do (particularly in local
councils they now run) that they want to make life more difficult for working
people and public services.
It’s important that our work colleagues, friends and family know where
Reform UK stand on austerity, public services, workers’ rights and terms and
conditions. Here are some key facts you can raise when talking about the
threat Reform UK pose.
Since taking over 10 councils in the May 2025 elections Reform UK have:
• Threatened to cut 2,000 jobs at Derbyshire Council
• Introduced Elon Musk style DOGE units at numerous councils – to make
‘efficiencies’
• Reneged on their promise to reduce taxes – with many Reform councils
looking to increase council tax by 5% (the maximum allowed)
• Said they would cut benefits and deregulate the economy, with
Nigel Farage also saying the minimum wage is too high for young workers
• Called for worrying changes to public sector pensions – including the
Local Government Pension Scheme
• Continued to oppose the Employment Rights Bill (the main piece
of government legislation to improve workers’ rights – e.g. banning
exploitative zero hours contracts, introducing rights to sick pay and
paternity pay from day one)
• Set out their opposition to clean energy, putting tens of thousands of
green jobs at risk
• Been clear (through their leader Nigel Farage) that they oppose the NHS
and favour a US style system funded through private insurance.
These are just a few examples of Reform’s harmful actions and words
directed at core UNISON and wider trade union movement interests.
The party also have many other policies that are diametrically opposed
to our union’s values and policies – including on immigration and climate
change –