Nigel Farage has confirmed plans to create a “UK Doge” as the Reform UK leader reveals the true scale of the ridiculous spending commitments made by local authorities.
In a sit-down interview with GB News, Farage disclosed that Reform UK had put in as many as 3,000 Freedom of Information requests ahead of polls opening tomorrow.
Hinting at the information the populist party had uncovered, the Brexit supremo told the People’s Channel: “We've been preparing for this for a long, long time.
“I simply can't believe the money that's being spent on consultants.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
GB NEWS
“I can't believe the money that's being spent on agency workers.
“I can't believe areas like climate change or teeth brushing. These are all areas where council tax money, taxpayers' money, is being spent that I don't think is the remit of a local council.”
Farage instead set out a two-part plan to turn the debt-ridden councils around, with the initial stage limiting chief executives' overreach and the latter involving auditors being sent in to inspect finances.
“I think there is a lot of wasteful spending, and a lot of complacency, and a lot of people being paid a lot of money working for councils where debts being racked up and getting worse,” he claimed.
GB News political editor Christopher Hope sat down with Nigel Farage
GB NEWS
The Clacton MP added: “Ditch stuff that I don't think county council should be getting involved with at all.
“So, slimmer Government, leaner Government. Oh, and while I'm at it, a different culture. Work from home. No, not under us.”
Farage has hit out at a number of local authorities, accusing Lincolnshire and Cornwall of racking up mega-debts.
However, the Reform leader’s attacks against Lancashire County Council sparked fury from its deputy leader.
Reform UK leader Nigel FarageGB NEWSAlan Vincent said: "It builds essential schools, adds SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] units to benefit our most vulnerable children and buys a fleet of buses to take our kids to school.
"It builds and acquires care homes in Lancashire for children unfortunate enough to need them and… it does all of that whilst, at the same time, frequently actually cuts our costs – thus saving money.
"Mr Farage seems to think Lancashire County Council empties bins and is on the brink of bankruptcy – neither of these things are remotely true."
Andy Pike, professor of regional development studies at Newcastle University, who has analysed councils’ finances in detail, added: “There might be some anecdotal stories of small things, here and there, across the 317 local councils in England. But where is the evidence for systematic waste?”
Elon Musk claimed Germany was "on the brink of economic and cultural collapse" and argued that his "significant investments" in the country gave him the right to speak outReutersHowever, Birmingham, Nottingham, Woking, Thurrock and Northumberland have all effectively declared bankruptcy in recent years.
Reform UK is also expected to hoover up councillors across much of England after polls close on May 1.
Top polling firm More in Common found Reform UK’s support across areas holding local elections surged to 26 per cent, one-point ahead of Kemi Badenoch’s Tories.
Labour is languishing in a distant third place on just 18 per cent, with Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats breathing down Sir Keir Starmer’s neck on 17 per cent.
