Rainbow Coalition Ousts Reform UK from Worcestershire Council

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, won a plurality in the 2025 Worcestershire County Council elections and took control despite lacking a majority. The council inherited a £600 million debt from the previous Conservative administration. Reform promised tax cuts but, after receiving special government permission, raised council tax by 8.98 % in February 2026. Its year in office was described as marked by absences and dereliction of duty. Opposition councillors from the Conservatives, Greens, Liberal Democrats and independents formed a “rainbow coalition” that removed Reform from power and installed Green leader Matt Jenkins.

The Guardian

Nigel Farage (Reform UK leader), Adam Kent (Conservative group leader), Jo Monk (former Reform leader), Alan Amos (successor to Monk), Matt Jenkins (Green leader), David Taylor (former Reform councillor turned independent), Kemi Badenoch (Conservative minister), and Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative chair) were central to the unfolding events.

The Guardian

Adam Kent warned that residents “suffered appallingly due to the instability of Reform.” Conservative chair Kevin Hollinrake called Kent “dishonest” and suspended him for joining a coalition with Greens. The Electoral Reform Society issued a statement that “the public wants a fairer, more honest, more cooperative politics.” Birmingham Labour’s national executive committee reportedly instructed the party not to negotiate with any other groups, reinforcing a stance of non-cooperation.

The Guardian

The coalition cited Jo Monk’s alleged authoritarian legal threat and Alan Amos’s past comment describing rape as an “easy” allegation. Opposition leaders attributed the 8.98 % tax hike to Reform’s poor planning and highlighted the council’s failure to address potholes, road safety and school quality.

The Guardian

Former Reform councillor David Taylor told the BBC that residents “are fed up with politics” and demand “potholes fixed, roads safe, and good schools.” He criticised Westminster’s “ivory tower” interference in local decisions.

The Guardian

Kent frames the tax increase as a consequence of failing to identify savings, while Reform secured special permission from the government, suggesting divergent explanations. The precise legal basis for Kent’s suspension remains unclear, as Kent declined public comment.

The Guardian

• “Worcestershire is broken. Reform will fix it.” — Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader

The Guardian

• “inexperienced team clueless on what their view is” — Adam Kent, Conservative group leader

The Guardian

• “What he has said about me is false, defamatory and wholly inaccurate – and the matter is now with my lawyers.” — Adam Kent

The Guardian

• “the public wants a fairer, more honest, more cooperative politics” — Electoral Reform Society

The Guardian

Worcestershire will become a unitary authority by 2028, testing the coalition’s capacity to deliver stable services. Kent’s pending lawsuit may set a precedent for disputes between local and national party structures. Meanwhile, Birmingham council risks paralysis as Labour refuses coalition talks, underscoring the broader challenge of governing in a fragmented political landscape.

The Guardian