Lib Dems Launch 'Reform Watch' Scheme

The Lib Dems have just launched "Reform Watch", an internal monitoring system to keep tabs on Nigel Farage's party now that they're actually running councils and mayoralties.

THE MONITORING SQUAD

The Lib Dems, who picked up more than 160 councillors and three new councils in last week's elections, are positioning themselves as what Ed Davey calls the "antidote to Reform."

Davey claims Labour and the Tories are "too scared" to scrutinise Reform properly. He's aiming to present the Lib Dems as willing to "take the fight" to Farage's party.

WHAT'S THE SCOPE?

The monitoring will track whether Reform councils follow through on their rhetoric about cutting services and reversing climate initiatives.

The Reform Watch will focus on several areas:

• Service cuts (particularly special needs funding, after Farage's comments about "too many" SEND diagnoses)

• Cultural issues like councils flying Ukrainian flags

• Climate and net zero work (mainly home insulation schemes)

WHO'S DOING THE WATCHING?

The monitoring project is led by:

• Amanda Hopgood, leader of the opposition in Reform-run County Durham

• Antony Hook, same role in Kent

• Mike Ross, Hull city council leader (who came second to Reform's Luke Campbell for mayor)

While the Lib Dems did well overall, Reform beat them in some key areas:

• Hull and East Yorkshire mayoralty

• Warwickshire council (Lib Dems second to Reform)

But Davey insists "it was Labour and Tories' failures that let Reform in."

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

In short: the Lib Dems have become Britain's unofficial opposition oversight committee. Whether this proves more effective than traditional political scrutiny remains to be seen.

Given that Reform now actually has to run things rather than just criticise, we'll soon see if their local government approach matches their national campaign messaging.