What's happened
Kent County Council, controlled by Reform UK, proposes a 3.99% council tax increase, just below the legal maximum, despite election promises to cut taxes. Other Reform-led councils also plan near-maximum rises, raising questions about the party's commitment to its campaign pledges amid financial pressures.
What's behind the headline?
The apparent contradiction between Reform UK's campaign promises and their current budget plans highlights a common challenge in local governance: balancing fiscal responsibility with political commitments. The party's control of multiple councils and their decision to raise taxes to the maximum legal limit suggest that financial pressures—such as debt, inflation, and rising service demands—are forcing pragmatic, if unpopular, decisions. The leaked footage of internal disputes and aggressive language indicates internal discord, which could undermine public trust. The strategy to keep tax hikes just below the legal cap appears aimed at maintaining a political image while managing budget deficits. This approach risks alienating voters who believed Reform's promises of tax cuts, potentially impacting future electoral prospects. The broader implication is that local authorities under political control will increasingly face tough choices, with fiscal austerity likely to persist despite campaign rhetoric.
What the papers say
The Mirror reports that Kent County Council, controlled by Reform UK, plans a 3.99% council tax increase, just below the legal maximum, despite campaign promises to cut taxes. The Guardian highlights that other Reform-led councils, including Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, are also proposing near-maximum increases, citing budget pressures. The Independent notes that Reform UK took control of several councils in May 2025, promising to reduce waste and taxes, but now faces criticism for breaking those promises as they implement significant tax hikes. The leaked footage of internal disputes at Kent County Council underscores internal divisions within the party, raising questions about governance and discipline. The contrasting narratives from these sources illustrate the tension between political promises and fiscal realities faced by Reform-controlled councils.
How we got here
Reform UK gained control of several local authorities in May 2025, including Kent County Council, after overturning long-standing Conservative majorities. The party campaigned on promises to reduce waste and lower taxes, but recent budget proposals reveal plans for significant council tax increases, citing financial pressures from debt, inflation, and rising service costs. The proposals follow similar moves by other Reform-led councils, such as Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire, which are also planning maximum or near-maximum increases. The political landscape has been marked by internal divisions and leaked footage of chaotic meetings, raising questions about governance and party discipline.
Go deeper
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Reform UK is a populist political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as The Brexit Party with a focus on Euroscepticism in November 2018, until being renamed on 6 January 2021.
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Kent County Council is a county council that governs most of the county of Kent in England. It is the upper tier of elected local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils.
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Derbyshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire, England. It has 64 councillors representing 61 divisions, with three divisions having two members each.
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Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.