Nigel Farage rages at DEI training for new Reform UK councillors as he vows to resist - 'We believe all people should be treated equally'

Nigel Farage takes aim at MPs as he welcomes Reform's newest Commons member to Westminster: ‘Enjoy it!’
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 06/05/2025

- 15:14

The Reform UK leader was speaking as the party made massive gains across England

Nigel Farage has told his newly-elected Reform UK councillors that they will not attend any "DEI and climate change training."

The party took control of 10 local authorities in England at last week’s local elections, including Durham, Lancashire and Staffordshire.


The party won more than 600 council seats while Labour and the Tories suffered heavy losses.

Farage said after the results that Reform-run councils "will be radical" and "things are going to be very different."

\u200bNigel Farage said his councillors will not

Nigel Farage said his councillors will not attend any DEI training sessions

PA

The Clacton MP has now said his councillors will not attend any training sessions related to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) and climate change.

Farage wrote on social media: "Reform UK councillors are being instructed to take part in DEI and climate change training.

"Our new elected officials will do no such thing because we believe all people should be treated equally."

It comes just hours after top brass at the party clashed with local MPs over what flags could be flown over the new Reform-controlled councils.

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had said on Monday that "Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George’s flag."

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Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf had said on Monday that 'Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George’s flag'

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Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, said Reform was off to "a great start" by "banning" the Lancashire rose from flying.

Dover MP Mike Tapp accused Reform of banning the Ukrainian flag from being flown, and called on the party to reverse the decision.

A Reform spokesman later said: "Reform UK will proudly fly the Union Jack, St George’s flag and county flags. Unlike the Tories and Labour, we are proud of our country and history."

Elsewhere, Farage has pledged to establish smaller versions of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in order to identify savings and cut council costs.

The Reform UK leader previously said "every county needs a Doge" and the party wanted to “get the auditors in" to look at how money was being spent.

Sarah Pochin getting sworn in as an MP

Sarah Pochin is sworn in as Reform UK's newest MP

GB NEWS

The party's first female MP Sarah Pochin was flanked by party leader Nigel Farage and chief whip Lee Anderson as she arrived in the Commons to be sworn in.

She then took an oath of allegiance to the Crown, which all MPs are required to do before they can take their seat in Parliament.

In one of the closest parliamentary contests ever, Pochin became the MP for Runcorn and Helsby after she defeated the Labour candidate by just six votes.

Labour had won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago but a by-election was triggered when former MP Mike Amesbury quit after admitting punching a constituent.