Adam Kent: Conservatives, not Reform UK, are the true champions of value for money in Worcestershire

Cllr Adam Kent is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Worcestershire County Council.

Here’s my frank assessment of Reform’s record running Worcestershire since May 2025—from the standpoint of the Leader of the Conservative Group—grounded in what’s been reported locally.

What we’ve had is culture-war theatrics, resignations, U-turns, and avoidable costs.

Flags first, services second

Within weeks, Reform’s focus was on flags, not fixing services. Their national “flags policy” rows spilled into Worcestershire, with public claims and counter-claims about what could or couldn’t be flown and where. It became a needless distraction that dominated airtime while real issues stacked up. Local and national coverage charted the confusion and mixed messages around what flags councils would allow, with Reform figures forced into clarifications after criticism. (The Guardian)

Leadership instability – three months in

Stable leadership is the minimum residents deserve. Instead, Reform’s Deputy Leader of the County Council quit after just three months—exactly the sort of churn that paralyses decision-making. Even Reform’s own statements didn’t explain why, and the role had to be filled initially on a temporary basis. That’s not a serious way to run a county. (Bromsgrove Standard)

A cabinet for headlines, not outcomes

The rhetoric has been loud; the delivery has been thin. On education, we’ve seen “announce first, think later.” When councillors scrutinised the Cabinet Member over schooling plans, tempers flared and residents were left none the wiser about how children would actually get the places they need, where they live. That’s not governing; that’s firefighting. (Yahoo News UK)

Scrapping a new school – then bussing children around

Reform stepped away from plans for a new secondary school—cheered by some as “avoiding an unsuitable site,” but without a credible Plan B that brings places closer to families. The practical consequence is more children being bussed across the county, some for up to two hours a day, paid from day-to-day revenue, loading yet more pressure onto an already massive home-to-school transport bill. Worcestershire already transports c.10,500 pupils daily; choosing transport over local places is the costliest, least child-friendly fix. (Facebook)

The first resignation – allowances without attendance

One of Reform’s new councillors has just resigned within months, having failed to attend a single council meeting, while public posts on social media showed a very different level of activity. Local coverage has rightly raised calls for allowances to be repaid to taxpayers. Public office is a duty, not a direct debit. (Yahoo News UK)

“Cut the perks” – while eating the pastries

Reform talked tough about scrapping food at council meetings. Following reports that their own senior figures including “President Zia and the Doge team being served pastries and a salad platter, on the public tab, while pushing to end lunches for everyone else.” If you’re serious about savings, you start with yourself. (Yahoo News UK)

The pattern: performative politics, real-world costs

Add it up: rows over flags; a Deputy Leader gone in three months; chaotic education messaging; scrapping a new school only to bus children farther at higher cost; a councillor resigning without attending; and performative “no lunches” politics undercut by catered meetings. This is not what residents voted for. It’s noise over service, slogans over delivery, and short-term headlines over long-term value.

What we (Conservatives) would do instead

• Places near homes, not coaches near budgets: prioritise local school capacity where children live, using developer contributions and a credible pipeline so we cut transport miles and costs. (Worcestershire County Council)
• Grip on home-to-school transport: rigorous demand planning, route optimisation and procurement discipline—because every unnecessary mile is money not spent in classrooms. (Worcestershire County Council)
• Standards in public office: councillors who don’t show up shouldn’t cash in; we’ll back clearer rules and recovery of allowances where appropriate. (Yahoo News UK)
• Serious leadership, not soap-opera politics: stability at the top so officers can deliver and residents get answers, not drama. (Bromsgrove Standard)

Worcestershire needs less theatre and more competence. I’m determined that the Conservative Group will continue to expose waste and inconsistency—and put forward practical, costed alternatives that bring services back to residents – and value back to taxpayers.