Reform UK is deploying a new oversight unit modeled after Elon Musk’s US government initiative to investigate public sector inefficiency—starting with Kent County Council.
The party, which gained control of the local authority during the May 1 elections, announced on Sunday that its first "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) team will soon begin reviewing the council's spending.
The team, Reform says, will include software engineers, data analysts, and forensic auditors tasked with identifying wasteful use of taxpayer funds.
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s party chairman, said the initiative will be “led by one of the UK’s leading tech entrepreneurs,” though the identity of that individual has not yet been disclosed. “As promised, we have created a UK DOGE to identify and cut wasteful spending of taxpayer money,” Yusuf said in a statement.
“Starting with Kent, our team will use cutting-edge technology and deliver real value for voters.”
Reform cited inspiration from the US version of the project, originally launched under President Donald Trump. Elon Musk has since stepped away from the project.
Kent County Council approved a 4.99 percent council tax increase in February—the maximum legally allowed. Then-leader Roger Gough, a Conservative, called it “the right budget for the tough times” and cited adult social care as the most urgent financial concern.
The council previously said it had found and would continue to seek “significant savings” and revenue totaling £96 million to balance its books.
Despite Reform's push for outside scrutiny, opposition leaders in Kent have voiced skepticism. Antony Hook, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the council, questioned the decision to bring in external auditors rather than work through existing council structures.
“We have at KCC a governance and audit committee, that was due to have its first meeting since the election next week,” Hook told BBC Radio Kent. “Reform have cancelled it. The health and scrutiny committee was meant to meet, Reform have cancelled it. Reform have cancelled most of the committee meetings for this week or next week, without any explanation.”
He added, “They haven't even named who their nominees to chair these important committees are. If Reform were serious about making the council work well they would be getting their councillors to do this job, not bringing in unnamed anonymous people who haven't been elected.”
In the May elections, Reform UK took control of eight councils from the Conservatives, as well as Doncaster from Labour and Durham from a coalition administration.
The party, which gained control of the local authority during the May 1 elections, announced on Sunday that its first "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) team will soon begin reviewing the council's spending.
The team, Reform says, will include software engineers, data analysts, and forensic auditors tasked with identifying wasteful use of taxpayer funds.
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s party chairman, said the initiative will be “led by one of the UK’s leading tech entrepreneurs,” though the identity of that individual has not yet been disclosed. “As promised, we have created a UK DOGE to identify and cut wasteful spending of taxpayer money,” Yusuf said in a statement.
“Starting with Kent, our team will use cutting-edge technology and deliver real value for voters.”
Reform cited inspiration from the US version of the project, originally launched under President Donald Trump. Elon Musk has since stepped away from the project.
Kent County Council approved a 4.99 percent council tax increase in February—the maximum legally allowed. Then-leader Roger Gough, a Conservative, called it “the right budget for the tough times” and cited adult social care as the most urgent financial concern.
The council previously said it had found and would continue to seek “significant savings” and revenue totaling £96 million to balance its books.
Despite Reform's push for outside scrutiny, opposition leaders in Kent have voiced skepticism. Antony Hook, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the council, questioned the decision to bring in external auditors rather than work through existing council structures.
“We have at KCC a governance and audit committee, that was due to have its first meeting since the election next week,” Hook told BBC Radio Kent. “Reform have cancelled it. The health and scrutiny committee was meant to meet, Reform have cancelled it. Reform have cancelled most of the committee meetings for this week or next week, without any explanation.”
He added, “They haven't even named who their nominees to chair these important committees are. If Reform were serious about making the council work well they would be getting their councillors to do this job, not bringing in unnamed anonymous people who haven't been elected.”
In the May elections, Reform UK took control of eight councils from the Conservatives, as well as Doncaster from Labour and Durham from a coalition administration.
