'Reform UK watch' launched by Ed Davey to hold 'Trumpian' councils accountable - 'People are very worried!' (0.01702127659574468)
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52877037%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3D6hQr7Im-UMp" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p class="">Ed Davey has established a new national “Reform Watch" scrutiny board, bringing together local Liberal Democrat leaders in areas where Reform has taken control.</p><p>The initiative aims to take a "coordinated approach to opposition" and claims it will hold the Reform UK party to account.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>The Liberal Democrats came second to Reform during last week’s local elections - winning more councillors than both Labour and the Conservatives for the first time ever.</p><p>The Board will be chaired by Amanda Hopgood, leader of the Liberal Democrat group that overtook Labour and the Conservatives to become the official opposition in County Durham.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Ed Davey" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="669d169192c74636cbe2ecb3b1003075" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b117a" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/ed-davey.png?id=60194981&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>She will be joined by Antony Hook, leader of the official opposition in Kent County Council, and Mike Ross, the leader of Hull City Council who came a close second to Reform in the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral race.</p><p> Representatives from the other counties where Reform took control last week will also be invited to join the group.</p><p>Speaking on the new "watch", leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey said: "A lot of people are rightly very worried about the threat Reform poses to our communities and the public services we all rely on. </p><p>"Nigel Farage has made it clear that Reform wants to do to our councils what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to America."</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/free-speech-row-police-apologise-kent-pensioner-tweet-non-crime-hate" target="_self">Free speech row erupts as police APOLOGISE after arresting pensioner over 'thought crime' tweet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/politics/migrant-crisis-richard-tice-hails-reform-uk-legal-action-close-hotels" target="_self">Richard Tice hails Reform action against migrant hotels: 'Britons don't want illegal migration!'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/politics/migrants-crisis-deportation-labour-crackdown-keir-starmer-reform-uk" target="_self">Migrants could be deported under Labour crackdown as Keir Starmer responds to threat of Reform UK</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Nigel Farage and Donald Trump" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2d15c683826aac5b39e7b8344b2076ba" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="985a2" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/nigel-farage-and-donald-trump.jpg?id=60194985&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><p>He added: “After our strong local election results, there are parts of the country from Durham to Kent where the Liberal Democrats are the only ones who can provide a real opposition to Reform. </p><p>"Our councillors will be strong local champions, holding Reform to account, protecting local services and exposing any waste of taxpayers’ hard-earned cash.”</p><p>Davey has been a longstanding critic of both Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, despite their popularity with members of the public.</p><p>Talking about Farage previously, Davey said: “He sounds like a spokesman for Trump. He certainly doesn’t speak for Britain.”</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Nigel Farage" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5e9ea0bc5158650fefcca89ffd5bb13a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="0ee0d" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/nigel-farage.jpg?id=60194988&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Councillor Amanda Hopgood, Leader of the Opposition on Durham County Council, said: “From fixing potholes to boosting the local economy, people deserve a council that works hard for them. </p><p>"Liberal Democrats will be holding Reform’s feet to the fire and standing up for our communities.</p><p>“On behalf of local people, our new team will shine a light on what Reform councils are up to, scrutinise their actions and fight to protect local services.”</p><p>GB News has approached Reform UK for a comment.</p>
