Reform UK Launches First Government Efficiency Audit in Kent — A New Era of Accountability Begins

This week, Reform UK has taken the first decisive step in what promises to be a transformational era of local government accountability. Reform’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — modelled on best practices from both public and private sectors and inspired by the results-driven culture of technology leaders — has begun its inaugural forensic audit at Kent County Council (KCC), which manages an annual budget of nearly £2 billion.

This initiative is not a gimmick. It is a clear demonstration of the kind of governance Reform UK intends to bring to all local authorities in which it is elected. Voters across the UK have reported the same thing: they are tired of spiralling council tax bills, deteriorating services, bloated bureaucracies and the complete absence of accountability. DOGE is Reform’s direct response to that democratic demand.

Backed by an historic electoral mandate in Kent — where Reform now holds 57 of 81 council seats — the DOGE team will be reviewing the full spectrum of financial operations at KCC. This includes (but is not limited) to the following:

• Contractual arrangements with consultants and suppliers

• Capital expenditure

• Procurement methods, including the use of framework agreements

• Financial resilience and reserve management

• Past audit flags and whistle-blower concerns

Forensic accountants, data analysts, software engineers and public sector reform experts are volunteering their time — not for personal gain, but out of a heartfelt commitment to restoring integrity and efficiency in public spending. The goal is simple: to root out inefficiencies and redirect precious taxpayer money towards better outcomes for communities.

Naturally, the entrenched political establishment is alarmed. Already, opposition leaders and critics are crying foul — not because they can point to procedural flaws, but because they fear scrutiny. They are comfortable in a system where opaque processes, poor oversight and political inertia rule the day.

Let us be clear: every council under Reform UK control will be subject to this same rigorous process. The era of blank cheques and evasive governance is over. We are building a system in which the public, not bureaucrats or political insiders, are the ultimate shareholders.

This is not a partisan stunt. It is an ethical obligation. The public deserves to know how its money is being spent — and to trust that the people who govern in their name are focused on delivery, not obfuscation.

What Comes Next?

If voters across the country place their trust in Reform UK at next year’s local elections, we will expand this model across every council we lead — large or small, rural or urban. Reform’s mission is to demonstrate that governance can be lean, transparent and relentlessly focused on public value. Surrey deserves the same level of scrutiny and if voters place their trust in Reform at the Local Elections next year, we will bring the same forensic discipline through line-by-line budget reviews, smarter procurement, tighter contract management and real-time public reporting.

The contrast could not be clearer. Where other parties defend their power, Reform invites scrutiny. Where others offer slogans, Reform delivers measurable results. Where others preserve the status quo, Reform is building a movement that challenges it at its core.

This is the beginning of a new compact between people and power. One grounded in data, discipline, and delivery.

If you want your hard-earned money respected, your council reformed and your community served — support Reform and lend us your vote.