Six months after a dramatic surge, Reform UK now leads county administrations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and runs a minority administration in Leicestershire. Councils cite savings (Derbyshire £53m; Nottinghamshire £400,000), improved SEND timeliness and pothole work, but residents' views are mixed. Controversies — a local press ban, flag spending and councillor turnover — have kept the story in the headlines as difficult budget decisions loom.
Six Months In: How Reform UK’s County Councils Are Faring in the East Midlands
Six months after a dramatic surge, Reform UK now leads county administrations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and runs a minority administration in Leicestershire. Councils cite savings (Derbyshire £53m; Nottinghamshire £400,000), improved SEND timeliness and pothole work, but residents' views are mixed. Controversies — a local press ban, flag spending and councillor turnover — have kept the story in the headlines as difficult budget decisions loom.
01:55 PM, 11/15/2025Politics
Six months on: Reform UK’s county councils in the East Midlands
Six months after a turquoise surge across the East Midlands, Reform UK now leads county administrations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and runs a minority administration in Leicestershire. The first months have mixed claimed savings and service improvements with high-profile controversies and visible teething problems as many newly elected councillors adjust to office.
Local reaction
In Ilkeston (Derbyshire) residents offered varied views: "I haven't been aware of any significant change," one person said; "It's going great," said another; while a third complained of "all talk and no action." Those snapshots suggest public judgement is still forming.
Key claims and figures
- Derbyshire: The administration says it has identified about £53m of efficiencies and prioritised pothole repairs. Leader Alan Graves has acknowledged that council tax will likely rise by the maximum allowed from April.
- Nottinghamshire: The county reports £400,000 saved on adult social care accommodation and an improvement in SEND performance: the share of EHC plans completed within 20 weeks rose from 37% to 47%, now above the UK average.
- Leicestershire: The minority Reform administration (25 councillors) introduced a policy restricting flags at County Hall to those it says reflect "British values," moved £2m from net-zero projects to flood defence work and plans to pay up to £1.4m for consultants to identify larger savings.
Controversies and turnover
Several decisions have drawn criticism: Nottinghamshire’s leader briefly banned a local paper from interviews and events after a dispute; Derbyshire scrapped its climate change committee; a high-profile £75,000 flag purchase attracted comment; and there has been councillor turnover — resignations on health grounds and removals where members could not attend meetings.
Challenges ahead
The key test for each administration is the next budget cycle. Many Reform candidates campaigned on council tax cuts, but councils are now confronting fiscal realities and may seek precept rises. Opponents argue that some improvements are the result of prior work or extra central funding, while supporters point to early progress on SEND, social care accommodation and road maintenance.
Bottom line
Six months in, Reform UK councils point to measurable improvements in some areas, yet local responses remain mixed. Budget decisions and how parties handle controversies and inexperience will shape voter judgement in the months ahead.
Compiled from reporting across the East Midlands.