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Remember Reform UK’s promise to find huge savings and still improve services, on which that party swept into power in several local authorities at this year’s elections?
Pfft. Nonsense.
The proof is in what we’re seeing in Derbyshire. Here’s The Guardian: “A Reform UK-led council plan to shut eight of its residential care homes has been condemned as “a betrayal of local people”.
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“Days before Christmas, Derbyshire county council announced that the homes would have to close after a proposed sale fell through.
“The closures have prompted a backlash and have echoes of the furore in Lancashire where the Reform-led council is planning to close five care homes and five day centres and move residents into the private sector.
“Derbyshire county council said it had been in “intensive” but unsuccessful negotiations with a provider to take over the running of the eight homes as a going concern.
“Joss Barnes, a Reform councillor who is the cabinet member for adult care, said he was “devastated” by the failure of the negotiations.
“The decision to sell the homes was agreed in November 2024 when the authority was Conservative-controlled.”
This is less a single betrayal than a relay race of responsibility – which matters because Reform UK’s defence rests heavily on where that baton was first dropped.
To read the full analysis, head over to The Whip Line.
A paid subscription unlocks all my analysis and helps keep independent UK political journalism going.
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Reform UK’s promises prove empty as it compounds a Tory care betrayal
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Remember Reform UK’s promise to find huge savings and still improve services, on which that party swept into power in several local authorities at this year’s elections?
Pfft. Nonsense.
The proof is in what we’re seeing in Derbyshire. Here’s The Guardian: “A Reform UK-led council plan to shut eight of its residential care homes has been condemned as “a betrayal of local people”.
“Days before Christmas, Derbyshire county council announced that the homes would have to close after a proposed sale fell through.
“The closures have prompted a backlash and have echoes of the furore in Lancashire where the Reform-led council is planning to close five care homes and five day centres and move residents into the private sector.
“Derbyshire county council said it had been in “intensive” but unsuccessful negotiations with a provider to take over the running of the eight homes as a going concern.
“Joss Barnes, a Reform councillor who is the cabinet member for adult care, said he was “devastated” by the failure of the negotiations.
“The decision to sell the homes was agreed in November 2024 when the authority was Conservative-controlled.”
This is less a single betrayal than a relay race of responsibility – which matters because Reform UK’s defence rests heavily on where that baton was first dropped.
To read the full analysis, head over to The Whip Line.
A paid subscription unlocks all my analysis and helps keep independent UK political journalism going.
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