Reform UK Takes Control of Lancashire Council with Major Budget and Policy Changes
In May 2025, Reform UK secured control of Lancashire County Council by electing 53 councillors and assuming responsibility for a council budget of approximately £2 billion. Stephen Atkinson, formerly a Conservative, became council leader and established an all-male cabinet that includes a private care company owner as the cabinet member for adult social care.
Early in their tenure, Reform UK implemented several changes including removing climate change from a departmental remit, freezing councillor salaries, and passing a free-speech motion associated with ethnicity issues. In June, Nigel Farage visited Lancashire and supported aggressive cost-cutting measures such as eliminating a £520,000 ergonomic chairs contract. However, efforts for broader savings were stalled by a data-protection dispute.
In July, the council introduced a flags policy prioritising the Union, England, Lancashire, royal, and military flags, while banning Pride and rainbow flags. Atkinson defended this move as supporting free speech while maintaining a focus on service delivery.
The council faces significant budget pressures, being £1.2 billion in debt and needing to achieve £100 million in savings within two years. Plans later expanded savings targets to £303 million by 2029, allocated as £75 million, £95 million, and £133 million across successive years. Initial savings of £21.9 million were identified from vacancies, reduced use of agency staff, procurement changes, and the use of artificial intelligence.
Reform UK also prioritises reducing spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), aiming to revise the council's inclusion and fairness policies. Currently, Lancashire Council has 18 DEI-dedicated posts costing around £1 million, with 2,219 DEI-related roles overall. Additionally, the council is focusing on issues related to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and asylum hotels, including the Tickled Trout site, due to cost and crime concerns.
