Councils controlled by Reform UK have an average of fewer than 0.5 roles focused on diversity and equality, according to recent findings. This has raised questions about the party’s claims that significant cost savings can be achieved by reducing such positions.
Freedom of information requests reveal that across the 10 English councils governed by Reform UK, there are only 4.56 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs related to equality and diversity, excluding mandatory roles like those for including pupils with disabilities in education.
Assuming an average full-time salary of £50,000, eliminating all these roles would save the Reform-run councils less than 0.003% of their combined budget.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, won over 670 seats in the local elections, taking control of 10 councils. Following their victory, Farage advised staff in diversity roles at these councils to look for alternative employment.
Before the elections, Farage and other Reform UK officials emphasized the potential savings from cutting diversity and inclusion roles, drawing inspiration from attempts to reduce US government diversity initiatives. They cited a figure of £7bn in annual savings, but official statistics from 2022-23 showed that the actual amount spent was £27m. The £7bn figure originated from a 2022 report by the Conservative Way Forward thinktank, which also covered government funding for charities and quangos perceived as promoting “woke” activities.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s then-chair, was ambiguous when asked about the potential savings from such cuts shortly after the elections. He suggested that some authorities might be hiding equalities roles under different job titles. However, after resigning and then returning to Reform UK as head of their “Doge” team focused on finding council savings, Yusuf’s comments shifted towards praising Durham council for removing references to climate change and equality and inclusion from department names, despite Durham having 1.8 full-time-equivalent diversity roles for legally required duties.
In June, Yusuf pointed to Kent council spending nearly £90m annually on a “contract for recruitment services,” alleging it was 22% of their annual payroll. However, this was not a contract but a framework for a national public sector recruitment system managed by Kent, suggesting Yusuf might not understand procurement systems.
The potential for savings in councils is limited, as most of their budget is allocated to legally mandated duties such as adult social care and children’s services. Reform UK was not available for comment, and their controlled councils are Derbyshire, Doncaster, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and West Northamptonshire.
Amanda Hopgood, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader on Durham council and head of the party’s “Reform watch” group, criticized the Doge program, suggesting it fails to achieve its intended purpose of saving money and instead fuels division.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/13/reform-uk-savings-cutting-diversity-and-equity-roles-councils
