Oh, they’ll be some sore heads today – of that there is no doubt. The Champagne corks will have been popping last night to celebrate the newly elected tranche of Reform councillors across the country – and rightly so!
Nigel Farage is positively glowing following the monumental turquoise tidal wave that’s swept the country today, seeing his party take over an incredible eight councils – from Durham to Derbyshire. And not only that – as well as hundreds of new councillors, they’ve added another MP to their growing collection.
As a councillor myself I know the immense pride that comes with being elected for the first time. In fact when I managed it back in 2019 it was one of the proudest moments of my life. People have dragged themselves from the comfort of their own homes and used their precious time to put a cross next to your name. They’ve put their faith in you.
I am a Conservative councillor in the northern town of Middlesbrough which, to put it frankly, is rarer than hen’s teeth. But what it does mean is that I know precisely some of the major challenges that these new councillors will face after this weekend’s celebrations are over.
My town has always been run by Labour. It’s redder than the inside of a volcano. So when an independent wave of councillors took over the show in 2019 it was a seismic shift for the town that had always been held under Labour’s thumb. Us Tories teamed up with the independents in an unofficial coalition – and eventually I was given the role of deputy mayor. So you could say that when it comes to what happens within local authorities, I’ve seen a lot.
Yes, we were absolutely brimming with excitement for how we were going to transform the town and finally take it forward after decades of stagnation under Labour, who took it totally for granted and could happily stick a rosette on a donkey and get it elected. But what came next wasn’t easy. Two big issues hit us hard.
First: Labour are a machine. They know how to run a council – even if it’s badly or inefficiently. When you’re a brand new councillor – that’s part of a brand new party – it’s going to be a baptism of fire working out what you’re supposed to be doing, where the levers of power are and how to pull them. Reform need to get to grips with this and fast before cracks start to show now they have some power and therefore scrutiny. Shouting from the sidelines about how rubbish Labour and the Tories are is no longer going to cut it.
Second: councillor and officer relations. During our four years at the helm of Middlesbrough Council this was the beartrap that surprised me the most. There was a daily power struggle about who was really in charge: think Yes Minister on speed. In fact the situation became so bad that the Local Government Association was deployed to try and smooth the tension.
The mayor and top team of councillors were desperate to get stuff done after what seemed like decades of hibernation. Many officers work hard, but years of cosy Labour rule meant few were challenged. Complacency crept in and reversing it felt like a daily nightmare.
My first piece of advice for newly elected Reform councillors and mayors is to remember one thing: you’re in charge. The public has chosen you and, as long as you act within the law, then it’s up to you to set the direction of your authority, not up to obfuscating or overcautious council officers who just want an easy life.
My second piece of advice – have a plan. Hours of pointless council meetings quickly turn into days and then into months if you’re not careful. Without a clear checklist of key objectives you can easily get lost in the mire of administrative treacle. It might sound counterintuitive, but don’t have endless ambition.
Instead, have a small list of things that you follow up on obsessively with officers. Finally getting potholes in your town filled? Great. Getting bin collections restored to once a week? Brilliant. But make a decision and, for the love of God, don’t be thrown off course.
I am so chuffed for all of those new councillors elected this week, even though in the main they aren’t members of my party. But winning an election really is the easy part. Delivering change is the real battle. The hard work starts now.
