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21
Jan
Conservative councillors take swipes at Reform amid budget talks
Senior North Yorkshire Conservative councillors took veiled — and not so veiled — swipes at Reform while discussing their authority’s finances at a key meeting.
North Yorkshire Council deputy leader Gareth Dadd told executive committee colleagues in a discussion on the 2026/27 budget that despite financial challenges, his authority was continuing to offer 100% council tax relief for low-income households.
Although not naming Reform-led Durham County Council, he said “the authority just across the border” was taking a different approach.
Referring to the neighbouring council, he said:
I know that a changed authority leadership has chosen to start charging the most vulnerable council tax in some shape or form.
We have not done that. There is still 100% relief for those those needed and again I’m very proud for us to continue that.
Further comments were made when the deputy leader discussed the authority’s income from the second homes premium, which is being used to increase the availability of affordable homes in the county.
The premium has been criticised nationally by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who called it “extortion” and an attack on property rights.
But Cllr Dadd said the “neighbouring authority” had not overturned existing plans for the second homes premium when it took control of the authority, “probably because it delivers £3m”.
He added:
I think the message is that it’s very easy to criticise, it’s very easy to harp and carp from the sidelines, but when you’re responsible for a budget, with the ramifications of that budget being on real people in the real world, political posture must come second to pragmatism.
Councillor Mark Crane, executive member for open to business, later joked that Cllr Dadd “seemed surprised that Reform councillors say one thing and do another”.
He said:
I have no idea why you would think that because, as night follows day, it is obvious they couldn’t fulfil their manifesto promises in the various locations.
Cllr Crane said that Reform in Kent were now using so-called SPADs (special advisors) at a cost of more than £100,000 after taking control of the authority last year.
“We employ nobody, and it costs us nothing, so it’s a little bit of a difference,” he added.
Cllr Tom Seston
In response to the comments, Councillor Tom Seston, Reform group leader on North Yorkshire Council, said:
What we saw at the meeting today was proof, if any was needed, that Reform UK is living rent-free in the heads of many councillors as they contemplate their own futures.
Reform will enter into the 2027 elections with a bold policy agenda that seeks to deliver better value for residents and grow the local economy.
The comments from Conservative council chiefs come amid rumours of further defections from the Conservative group at North Yorkshire Council to Reform following the departure of Councillor Karl Arthur in October last year.
A local election is due to be held in North Yorkshire next year.
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