Nigel Farage appeared under pressure during a television interview after being questioned about Reform-controlled councils increasing council tax despite campaign promises suggesting taxes would be cut.
The Reform UK leader was challenged on pledges made during last year’s local elections, when campaign leaflets promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes”. Several of those leaflets carried Farage’s image as the party sought to win control of local authorities.
However, some councils now run by Reform are preparing to increase council tax from next month, prompting questions about whether the party has broken the commitments highlighted during its election campaign.
Reform Councils Increasing Council Tax Despite Campaign Messaging
During an interview with ITV News, Farage was confronted over the issue. The journalist told him: “Your leaflets at last year’s local elections promised to ‘reduce waste and cut your taxes’. Most of the councils that you took control of are putting tax up, including Kent – 3.99%.”
Farage responded: “I never said we’d cut. I never said we’d cut.”
The interviewer pressed the point, saying: “Your leaflet said ‘cut your taxes’.”
Farage replied that the phrase “means don’t charge the maximum of 4.99%”.
The reporter responded: “Most people would think that would be cutting your taxes.”
Farage Denies Personal Role In Reform Election Leaflets
Farage then shifted his argument, stating: “I never once, in the country, ever once did I say we would cut council tax.”
When asked if it had been “a mistake to put it on your leaflet”, he answered: “I never put it on my leaflets.”
The journalist insisted: “You did. It said ‘reduce waste and cut your taxes’. Those were the words.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nigel Farage To Dine With Donald Trump At Mar-A-Lago As UK–US Tensions Grow Over Chagos Islands Deal
Farage responded: “Nothing with my name ever went on that.”
Asked whether “no such claims will appear” on Reform leaflets ahead of the next English council elections on May 7, Farage again maintained: “We did not say we would cut tax.”
When reminded that last year’s leaflets included the promise to “reduce waste and cut your taxes”, Farage said: “Cutting taxes could mean not putting them up as much I suppose, but I never promised cuts in council tax.”
Labour Shares Interview Clip On Social Media
The exchange quickly gained traction online after the Labour Party shared a clip of the interview on X.
Posting the footage, Labour added the caption: “He must think you were born yesterday.”
He must think you were born yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Z4v0SXGJW1
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) March 9, 2026
The interview has drawn attention as parties prepare for the next round of English council elections scheduled for May 7.
Why you can trust SurgeZirc UK. Learn more about our editorial standards.
