Reform UK leader Nigel Farage promised residents a “fresh new start” after launching an explosive attack on Durham County Council’s financial management by claiming it has “failed residents”.
Mr. Farage criticized recent council spending and slammed a council tax increase of 22 per cent in five years while racking up £409 million in debt.
On a visit to Stanley on Tuesday ahead of next month’s local election, he vowed to fix the local authority by cutting taxes and reinvesting in local services.
"Durham County Council has failed residents,” he said. “They’ve racked up eye-watering debt and squandered local people’s hard-earned cash on pointless salaries and vanity schemes.
“When something is broken you need a fresh approach. You’ve just got to look at the numbers of what’s been happening within the county. There’s a very strong argument that money is being misallocated and misspent, and I get the feeling the county council runs for itself almost more than the residents and the voters.”
Eye-watering council spending such as the chief executive’s £213,000 salary - more than the Prime Minister - and almost £16 million on external training and consultants were also criticized by the party.
Mr. Farage added: “I can’t even believe there are 1,500 people working for a department in communities and climate change. I can’t believe some of the expenditures that I am seeing on climate change initiatives and cycle lanes rather than focusing on the essentials.
“It’s about cutting budgets and asking questions; why are 26 people earning over £100,000 a year?”
But the Joint Administration in charge of the council - consisting of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents - hit back at Mr. Farage’s rant. “This council is not broken, but it soon would be if Reform got hold of it,” a spokesperson for the Joint Administration said.
The party has identified County Durham as a battleground region to help grow its popularity and political status in the North East. A total of 99 candidates have been selected to stand for the party in every single seat at the local election in May.
“The color of County Durham politics is going to look very different in a few weeks, and that I’m very confident of,” Mr. Farage told campaigners.
The party’s candidates are described as coming from all walks of life and of all ages in an attempt to appeal to a broad demographic of voters. Mr. Farage said: “We are campaigning hard. We have some people with experience, we have many that don’t.
“We are a grassroots party, I’m a grassroots leader. I’m going around different counties day after day meeting people and hopefully inspiring them to get out, knock on doors, and take the hard knocks that come with campaigning.”
Later visiting Stanley town center, Mr. Farage stopped to shake the hands of passers-by and posed for selfies as he walked along Front Street. He spoke to enthusiastic supporters while ordering a strawberry and cream tart at a café and received a free box of dog treats from a local trader.
But his presence wasn’t warmly received by all, as some on Front Street shouted abuse and threats, as campaigners highlighted the struggling state of the town’s main shopping street.
The current Joint Administration in charge of the authority consists of several political parties - would Reform be willing to collaborate with others?
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” Farage said. “When it comes to good governance sometimes deals have to be done, but equally, you can do deals and find yourself inhibited. Quite honestly, I think they are questions for May 2.”
The Joint Administration response added: “As an MP, Mr. Farage should know that the formula for funding local government is causing the greatest financial pressure on councils, but he’s failed to suggest any feasible solutions, either during his rare appearances in Parliament or on his flying visit to County Durham. Reform calls for a fresh approach, but offers no ideas, just the politics of division.
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