Latest news with #Reform-led
South Wales Guardian
09-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Union membership increases in Reform-led councils
The GMB said workers were 'flocking' to join unions amid fears of cuts to pay, jobs and conditions by Reform. Councils where the GMB has seen an increase in membership include Durham, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Doncaster. Nigel Farage? Weak on Putin. Threatens our NHS. #GMB25 — GMB Union (@GMB_union) June 8, 2025 GMB national officer Rachel Harrison told the PA news agency: 'Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren't buying it. 'Workers in Reform-led councils are flocking to join unions because they know the first thing Farage and his cronies will do is attack low-paid staff's terms and conditions.' GMB general secretary Gary Smith launched an angry attack against Reform in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton at the weekend, saying Nigel Farage and his 'ex-Tory soulmates' were no friends of workers. 'They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish. 'Why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes? 'Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls, and the first thing they want to do is sack council workers. 'It's high time they were called out for their sneering, snooty attitude about so-called 'gold-plated' pensions. Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think their meagre pension is gold-plated. 'Reform's abuse and name-calling of low-paid public sector workers is an utter disgrace.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KCC deputy leader defends Reform's performance
Comments made about the performance of Reform UK at Kent County Council (KCC) are nothing more than "political gesturing", the local authority's deputy leader has said. A number of MPs and councillors have voiced concerns after Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf resigned before returning shortly after to lead the party's Department of Government Efficiency Unit (DoGE). Dover and Deal Labour MP Mike Tapp has said the Doge project is "already in disarray", while the leader of the Liberal Democrats at KCC, Antony Hook, described the situation as "utter chaos". KCC deputy leader Brian Collins rejected the criticism and said the comments demonstrated why Reform had swept the May local elections. He told BBC Radio Kent: "This is the opposition doing political gesturing. "I understand why they're doing it, but this is one of the very reasons why Reform were voted in, because the public have had enough of this sort of nonsense." He said the party was "very calm, we're very collected, we're focused" at county hall. "If the opposition want to jump up and down because they haven't got anything better that they want to do with their time, let them get on with it," he added. In the week since the Doge team attended its first meeting at KCC, Mr Yusuf resigned and returned, while Nathaniel Fried - who was said to be leading the Doge unit - also quit, citing a lack of faith in the project. The unit's plan is to produce recommendations on how to reduce inefficiencies in spending, with the help of artificial intelligence, data analysis tools and forensic auditing techniques. In a letter to KCC leader Linden Kemkaran published over the weekend, Mr Tapp said Reform's decisions were being driven by "populist rhetoric" rather than the interests of residents. The party has also faced accusations that there have not been any KCC committee meetings since it took control of the authority. Denying there has been any kind of "hold up", Mr Collins said: "We're not going to be rushed or pressured, we're going to do things properly. "A lot of the first few weeks have obviously been setting up our committees, our cabinet positions, getting who we feel are the right people in these positions. "It's a long process." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Tice denies Reform UK in chaos after Yusuf returns Reform council cost-cutting drive in doubt No time frame for Reform Doge review in Kent Farage to bring 'Doge' audits to Reform-led county Reform UK to give council Musk-style audit Kent County Council Refrom UK
Glasgow Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Union membership increases in Reform-led councils
The GMB said workers were 'flocking' to join unions amid fears of cuts to pay, jobs and conditions by Reform. Councils where the GMB has seen an increase in membership include Durham, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Doncaster. GMB national officer Rachel Harrison told the PA news agency: 'Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren't buying it. 'Workers in Reform-led councils are flocking to join unions because they know the first thing Farage and his cronies will do is attack low-paid staff's terms and conditions.' GMB general secretary Gary Smith launched an angry attack against Reform in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton at the weekend, saying Nigel Farage and his 'ex-Tory soulmates' were no friends of workers. 'They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish. 'Why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes? 'Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls, and the first thing they want to do is sack council workers. 'It's high time they were called out for their sneering, snooty attitude about so-called 'gold-plated' pensions. Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think their meagre pension is gold-plated. 'Reform's abuse and name-calling of low-paid public sector workers is an utter disgrace.'
Powys County Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Union membership increases in Reform-led councils
Union membership in councils run by Reform has increased since the party took control of local authorities after the May elections, new figures reveal. The GMB said workers were 'flocking' to join unions amid fears of cuts to pay, jobs and conditions by Reform. Councils where the GMB has seen an increase in membership include Durham, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Doncaster. Nigel Farage? Weak on Putin. Threatens our NHS. #GMB25 — GMB Union (@GMB_union) June 8, 2025 GMB national officer Rachel Harrison told the PA news agency: 'Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren't buying it. 'Workers in Reform-led councils are flocking to join unions because they know the first thing Farage and his cronies will do is attack low-paid staff's terms and conditions.' GMB general secretary Gary Smith launched an angry attack against Reform in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton at the weekend, saying Nigel Farage and his 'ex-Tory soulmates' were no friends of workers. 'They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish. 'Why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes? 'Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls, and the first thing they want to do is sack council workers. 'It's high time they were called out for their sneering, snooty attitude about so-called 'gold-plated' pensions. Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think their meagre pension is gold-plated.
North Wales Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Union membership increases in Reform-led councils
The GMB said workers were 'flocking' to join unions amid fears of cuts to pay, jobs and conditions by Reform. Councils where the GMB has seen an increase in membership include Durham, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Doncaster. Nigel Farage? Weak on Putin. Threatens our NHS. #GMB25 — GMB Union (@GMB_union) June 8, 2025 GMB national officer Rachel Harrison told the PA news agency: 'Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren't buying it. 'Workers in Reform-led councils are flocking to join unions because they know the first thing Farage and his cronies will do is attack low-paid staff's terms and conditions.' GMB general secretary Gary Smith launched an angry attack against Reform in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton at the weekend, saying Nigel Farage and his 'ex-Tory soulmates' were no friends of workers. 'They've spent a political lifetime attacking trade unions and the rights we have all fought so hard for. Decent pay, better conditions, protections we cherish. 'Why is it always the posh, private schoolboys who want act like they're working-class heroes? 'Do they really think we can't see the bankers, the chancers, the anti-union blowhards? 'If Reform are so pro-worker, why did they just vote against protections against fire and rehire? Why did they vote against sick pay for all workers? Why did they vote against fair pay for carers? Why did they vote against trade union rights to access and organise in places like Amazon? 'Now they are going to run town halls, and the first thing they want to do is sack council workers. 'It's high time they were called out for their sneering, snooty attitude about so-called 'gold-plated' pensions. Go ask a local authority care worker, refuse collector, street cleaner, school support staff member if they think their meagre pension is gold-plated. 'Reform's abuse and name-calling of low-paid public sector workers is an utter disgrace.'
