Head of Reform council’s cost-cutting programme resigns after suggesting authority has made ‘no cuts’
Reform cabinet member resigns after ‘lapse of judgement’
- Matthew Fraser Moat, who led Reform UK’s cost-cutting programme at Kent County Council (KCC), has resigned from his cabinet role.
- His resignation follows an interview with the Financial Times, where he and a colleague appeared to suggest the council had not made significant cuts, contrary to their mandate.
- Mr Moat claimed his words were “twisted” by the Financial Times to fit an “anti-KCC narrative” and cited the pressure of balancing his council duties with his family business led to “a lapse of judgement”.
- Reform UK gained control of KCC after overturning a 30-year Tory majority, promising to “reduce waste” through its Department of Local Government Efficiency (Dolge), inspired by Elon Musk’s 'Doge'.
- KCC and a Reform UK spokesperson said the Financial Times article did not accurately reflect the situation, asserting that £100 million in efficiencies had been found.
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