Reform UK Policy Documents Accidentally Sent To Island Councillors

A senior Reform UK figure has accidentally sent a collection of internal policy and guidance documents to independent and Conservative Isle of Wight councillors.

Ben Bradley, the party's head of local government delivery and a former Conservative MP, sent an email to 12 Reform councillors on the Island, as well as Conservative councillor Ed Blake and six independents.

The email included an apology for what it described as a lack of support and engagement from Reform UK headquarters up to this point.

The accompanying documents set out a range of policies and guidance for Reform councillors.

Among the proposals are bringing back prayers or the national anthem at council meetings, changing financial support for events described as being linked to "other cultures" towards "Christian/English events", and ending spending on what the documents describe as "damaging" Net Zero and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programmes.

One briefing for councillor induction also advises representatives that the press are "not on your side".

It says communication, policy, decision-making and campaigning should all be "done as one", while councillors are told to notify their group leadership and Reform UK headquarters when contacted by the media.

Another document, called the Reform UK Financial Resilience Toolkit, encourages councils to review their assets and consider getting rid of those deemed unnecessary.

It also recommends identifying processes that could be automated or use artificial intelligence, reducing manual financial, HR and customer service transactions, and introducing self-service where appropriate.

Conservative councillor Ed Blake, who received the documents, questioned why the national party had not correctly identified which councillors were Reform members.

He also criticised the guidance on dealing with the media and social media, saying Islanders want councillors who represent their communities rather than simply following national party politics.

A Reform UK spokesperson said the party supports its councils and councillors in delivering efficiency and good local services in line with the platform they were elected on.

They also said Reform was proud of its record in local government and claimed its councils had saved hundreds of millions of pounds for local taxpayers.

Ben Bradley has so far declined to comment.