Nigel Farage says cutting waste is more important than cutting council tax for Reform UK councils

ANGLIA 170625 Nigel Farage at North Northamptonshire Council Credit: ITV News Anglia
Nigel Farage visited North Northamptonshire Council to meet the newly-elected Reform councillors. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Reform UK's drive to cut local government waste will not necessarily mean lower council tax bills for residents, leader Nigel Farage said on a visit to one of his party's newly-claimed councils.

The MP for Clacton in Essex visited North Northamptonshire Council, of which his party took control in May's local elections, to identify where cost savings could be made.

Mr Farage said the party was "entitled to make sure" council tax was not being wasted, but added: "I think our priority is to reduce waste wherever we find it.

"Our priority is to look at how services are delivered, and to see whether we might negotiate better contracts.

"And that is a bigger priority than cutting council tax at this moment in time."

Reform UK overturned Conservative majorities to take control of both the North and West Northamptonshire unitary authorities, winning a majority of 12 in the former and eight in the latter.

The party has set up an Elon Musk-style Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) unit to target waste in councils, with the first team visiting Kent County Council in June.

Mr Farage said there were probably fewer efficiencies to be made in North Northamptonshire because the council was created in 2021, with the two unitary authorities replacing bankrupt Northamptonshire County Council.

However, he said staff members who currently work from home and refuse to come back into the office could lose their jobs.

"Let's hope we don't have to, but if people are working and being paid out of the public purse and not delivering, they should be accountable," he said.

The leader of North Northamptonshire Council, Martin Griffiths, told ITV News Anglia he wanted to continue to make efficiencies so that the council could tackle issues such as social care and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

He said the council was looking at "every single line of our expenditure in full detail" but did not give specific examples of where cuts could be made.

"I want to make North Northamptonshire an exemplary council," he added.

"We want to put our residents first and foremost in everything we do, and that's my ambition."

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know