Farage Takes Aim at ‘Woke’ Council Roles After Election Surge
Nigel Farage has wasted no time in laying out an aggressive post-election agenda for Reform UK, revealing that newly elected councillors will outright refuse training on climate change and diversity. The announcement comes just days after Reform won control of 10 councils across England and secured over 600 local seats—a stunning result that has rattled both Labour and the Conservatives.
Reform UK Vows to Scrap Diversity and Climate Bureaucracy
Farage said Reform councillors will ignore instructions to participate in diversity and Net Zero briefings, framing them as unnecessary ideological indoctrination. “We believe all people should be treated equally,” he insisted. The move signals the beginning of what he’s calling a full-scale “dismantling” of taxpayer-funded council jobs tied to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and green policies.
The Local Election Earthquake
Reform Wins Control of 10 Councils and Over 600 Seats
In one of the most dramatic upsets in recent UK local election history, Reform UK surged to control 10 local authorities in England, capturing over 600 council seats in the process. The party’s gains were strongest in working-class areas and traditional Tory strongholds where disillusionment with mainstream politics runs deep.
Farage’s Post-Victory Agenda Unleashed
Flush with political momentum, Farage has begun outlining his party’s next steps, declaring a “very, very big fight” to remove what he calls unnecessary bureaucracy and “woke” job roles embedded in local councils.
Refusing Training on Climate and Diversity
Reform Councillors to Reject DEI and Net Zero Briefings
Reform councillors are now expected to refuse standard induction briefings on Net Zero strategies and DEI policies. Farage said the training contradicts the party’s core principles of individual liberty and limited government. “This is about taking back control of councils for the people, not career ideologues,” he declared.
“We Believe All People Should Be Treated Equally,” Says Farage
Farage defended the move by asserting that treating everyone equally means rejecting divisive identity politics. “You don’t need a training course to respect people,” he argued, calling diversity training programs “performative and patronizing.”
What Reform UK Plans to Dismantle
Crackdown on Council Roles Linked to DEI and Climate Policy
Farage has announced a DOGE-style (Directly Operated Government Efficiency) cull of council staff whose roles are focused on DEI or climate policy. While the number of such positions is disputed—some councils claim few are explicitly labeled DEI—the broader implication is clear: Reform wants to gut entire departments that promote inclusion, sustainability, and remote work flexibility.
Cuts to Remote Work and ‘Woke Bureaucracies’ Promised
Alongside DEI and green initiatives, Reform is also promising a clampdown on what it calls “lazy WFH culture.” A return to in-office work and a full audit of “non-essential roles” are already being discussed in Reform-held councils, according to insiders.
Unions Mobilize in Resistance
Council Staff Prepared to Fight Layoffs and Job Role Changes
Trade unions, including UNISON and GMB, are already mobilizing in opposition. They argue Reform’s plans threaten not just council jobs but the values of equality and sustainability that those roles support. Strike action and legal challenges are being prepared in response to the anticipated job cuts.
Legal Action and Industrial Action on the Table
“We will not stand by while vital roles and services are destroyed for political point scoring,” said one union leader. Employment tribunals and judicial reviews are expected if large-scale redundancies are announced.
Taxpayer-Funded Legal Action on Asylum Policies
Reform’s Push to Block Migrant Housing Plans
Reform is also reportedly considering using council legal teams to challenge central government plans to house asylum seekers in local hotels and public buildings. “Local democracy means local decisions,” a Reform councillor said, suggesting that council funds could be used to launch legal bids against national immigration policies.
Legal Bids Likely to Spark National Debate
Critics argue that using taxpayer money to fight central government policy could backfire legally and politically, but supporters say it’s a necessary stand against uncontrolled migration and government overreach.
DEI Roles: Symbolic or Substantial?
Few Dedicated DEI Staff – But Culture Shift Runs Deep
While Reform claims there are “armies of woke jobs” in councils, data shows that few positions are officially titled “DEI.” Instead, inclusion goals are often embedded in broader roles like HR, public engagement, or education policy. Reform wants to root out what it sees as ideological bias wherever it exists.
Reform Seeks to Reverse ‘Embedded Ideology’
Farage insists the goal isn’t just cutting costs—but removing ideology from public services altogether. “This isn’t a culture war; it’s common sense,” he said.
Delayed Council Power Transfers
Reform’s Policies Not Yet Active – Handover in Coming Weeks
Although Reform swept the elections, the official handover of council control won’t occur until later this month. That delay has given unions time to organize and has left some Reform plans on pause—though insiders say drafts of policy cuts are already being prepared.
Incoming Battles Set to Define Local Governance
What happens next will test the legal limits of local government power, and determine whether Reform’s approach to “taking back control” of councils becomes a model—or a cautionary tale.
Conclusion
Culture War Moves from Parliament to Town Halls
With their sweeping local election victory, Reform UK is bringing the culture war into town halls across England. Whether this results in leaner governance or widespread disruption remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: Farage’s revolution has only just begun.
FAQs
Q1: Why are Reform councillors refusing DEI and Net Zero training?
A1: They argue the training is ideological and unnecessary, insisting that everyone should be treated equally without being taught how.
Q2: What is Reform UK planning to cut?
A2: Staff roles related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), climate change policy, and remote work flexibility.
Q3: How are unions responding?
A3: With threats of legal action, industrial strikes, and public campaigning to protect council jobs and services.
Q4: Are there many DEI-specific roles in councils?
A4: Not always in name, but many roles incorporate DEI principles, which Reform wants to strip from council functions.
Q5: What about the asylum seeker housing issue?
A5: Reform councillors are considering taxpayer-funded legal challenges to stop asylum housing plans in local areas.
