Reform UK has unveiled its own version of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to root out “wasteful spending” in local councils. But critics say the initiative is laughably ill-prepared and riddled with contradictions from day one.
💻 What is Reform’s DOGE?
Reform UK claims its DOGE team comprises “world-class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.” According to Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, the unit will:
“Identify and help eliminate wasteful spending. They arrive at Kent County Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request: [to cooperate].”
Their first target is Kent County Council (KCC), which Reform took control of in May’s elections. Yusuf insists the DOGE squad will analyse every line of expenditure, hoping to slash inefficiencies and save taxpayers money.
🧐 Musk-style hype meets political reality
The name DOGE is a nod to Musk’s own venture under the Trump administration, when Musk promised to cut $1 trillion in federal outlays. Trump famously questioned, “Was it all bulls***?” after Musk left the role, sporting a black eye he claimed came from his five-year-old son punching him. Musk also stonewalled claims that he used ketamine, ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms and Adderall while in office.
Reform’s DOGE, however, faces its own credibility crisis. KCC’s MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, tweeted:
“This from the party that cancelled next week’s Governance and Audit Committee at Kent County Council. Utter joke – why don’t you try actually running the council guys.”
Martin’s jab exposes the irony: Reform wants to audit KCC’s governance, yet they cannot even hold their own oversight meeting.
🎭 Why critics call it a farce
- Cancelled committee vs audit ambition
Reform scrapped an essential Governance and Audit Committee at KCC just days before DOGE’s arrival, raising doubts about their genuine commitment to transparency. - Unnamed leadership
The man “leading” Reform’s DOGE is described vaguely as a top tech entrepreneur and turnaround CEO—yet no name is provided. Voters wonder: is he credible, or just a party insider? - “World-class” but unpaid
While volunteers are noble, forensic auditing and deep data analysis require dedicated staff, tools and time. Free labour can’t replace experienced civil servants and external auditors. - Clashing priorities
Reform campaigned on cutting public spending but also promises universal welfare payments, such as reintroducing winter fuel allowances. Critics say those pledges themselves cost billions—the same realm they aim to “audit.” - Musk-inspired jargon
Borrowing Musk’s DOGE acronym (and meme-worthy name) may attract clicks, but it risks turning serious governance issues into shallow theatre.
⚠️ What happens next?
Kent residents will watch closely as DOGE inspects council books. If Reform can’t even hold an audit committee, can they genuinely “eliminate wasteful spending”? Their task list includes:
- Scanning vendor contracts for overpayments
- Identifying unused assets gathering dust
- Pinpointing duplicated services across departments
But without clarity on leadership, methodology and scope, the public remains sceptical. Many fear DOGE is simply a PR stunt to distract from Reform’s broader policy contradictions—like promising massive welfare increases without explaining funding.
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Related: Reform councillor Darren Grimes accused of pushing “Great Replacement” theory on GB News
