Concerns about Reform UK’s DOGE-inspired unit’s approach to data sharing is ‘laughable’, says Reform UK’s director of local government.

Speaking at the Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual conference, Cllr Jaymey McIvor said council budgeting has been a ‘disaster’ and efficiencies will be found by the party’s team of auditors, which is modelled on the US Government's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Last month, Reform UK asked council officers in Kent County Council – the first council to be visited by the party’s auditors – to provide them with contract data, procurement information and whistleblowing reports relevant to financial matters.

Shadow levelling up secretary Kevin Hollinrake warned this was a ‘cyber-security disaster waiting to happen'.

Responding to a question from the audience raising data security concerns, Cllr McIvor said: ‘Fuss about GDPR and data is laughable’, adding: ‘We ensure data is only shared with the political leadership of the council’.

Cllr Stephen Atkinson, leader of Lancashire County Council and Reform UK’s LGA group, added that it was ‘not unusual’ to share information with third parties.

The leader of Medway Council also asked Cllr McIvor to apologise on behalf of Reform UK to council officers for referring to them as the ‘blob’. He added that the party should thank hard working staff.

Cllr McIvor responded that many officers do an ‘exceptional job’ but added that anybody who deliberately resists the reforms put forward by members are the ‘blob and its unacceptable’.

To learn more about Reform UK, check out: Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for and Reform UK’s ‘Doge’ witch-hunts will achieve little.