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Ex-Tory Ben Bradley Defects to Reform UK to Lead Local Government Drive

His new brief targets council savings through Reform’s Doge efficiency plan under Richard Tice.

Overview

  • Reform UK named Bradley head of local government action, tasked with cutting council spending and supporting its council leaders and regional mayors.
  • He will work with Richard Tice on the Department of Government Efficiency “Doge” programme to help councils save money and improve services.
  • Bradley said trust in the Conservative and Labour parties "has gone" and cast Reform as the only party prepared to tackle pressing issues.
  • The Mansfield politician previously served as a Conservative MP from 2017 to 2024 and led Nottinghamshire County Council before losing his seat in 2024.
  • Reform has drawn roughly 20–22 former Conservative MPs this year, prompting Labour criticism and Nigel Farage’s insistence the party will not become "Conservative Party 2.0", as cash-strapped councils weigh 5% council tax rises.