{"id":83753,"date":"2025-07-06T07:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T06:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=83753"},"modified":"2025-07-06T07:48:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T06:48:53","slug":"farages-cronies-are-being-exposed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2025\/07\/06\/farages-cronies-are-being-exposed\/","title":{"rendered":"Farage’s cronies are being exposed"},"content":{"rendered":"

As The Guardian<\/a> has noted:<\/p>\n

\n

A Reform MP, James McMurdock, has given up the party whip while he is investigated over allegations about his business conduct during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

Lee Anderson, the party\u2019s chief whip, made the announcement on Saturday, saying it related to accusations in the Sunday Times over government loans he is alleged to have taken out during the Covid pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I will not, of course, pre-judge an inquiry. What I will do is point out that this means that 2 of the five Reform MPs elected for that party a year ago have now left or been suspended from it. Losing 40% of your party would, anywhere else, be a sign of massive incompetence. Farage marches on.<\/p>\n

But, for how long, I wonder? As the Guardian also notes:<\/p>\n

\n

Reform UK\u2019s local election wins have led to teenagers being put in charge of vital public services, including a 19-year-old who is overseeing children and family services while at university.<\/p>\n

At\u00a0Leicestershire\u00a0county council, the Reform councillor Charles Pugsley, 19, has been made the cabinet member for children and family services.<\/p>\n

Pugsley\u2019s elevation has caused particular concern, as has that of Joseph Boam, a 22-year-old who has been\u00a0made the deputy council leader<\/a>\u00a0and handed the adult social care portfolio, despite having previously expressed the view that \u201cdepression isn\u2019t real\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No one on earth thinks a university student is capable of being a cabinet member for children and family services.<\/p>\n

Nor should anyone who denies the reality of depression be anywhere near an adult social care portfolio.<\/p>\n

However, Reform has placed these exceptionally young adults in charge of providing services to these vulnerable individuals, which is a clear indication of the total contempt that they feel for those in need of care, support, and protection.<\/p>\n

These are Farage's nightmares.<\/p>\n

He cannot run a parliamentary party because he cannot find candidates who can withstand scrutiny.<\/p>\n

He cannot run councils because those elected under the Reform banner to do so do not possess the required competence.<\/p>\n

I do not doubt that Leicestershire's council officers will continue to provide services despite what their elected officers do; they have no other statutory choice. But somewhere, sometime, the reality of Reform's record is going to come out, and it is going to be damning for Farage.<\/p>\n

My only hope is that no one suffers as a result.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As The Guardian has noted: A Reform MP, James McMurdock, has given up the party whip while he is investigated over allegations about his business
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