Reform council leader forced to resign over leaked comments about staff

The Reform leader of Leicestershire County Council Dan Harrison has announced he’s standing down from his position after comments he made about staff redundancies were leaked online.

Harrison had been leader of the council since May 2025.

In a leaked recording, Harrison said: “There’s 76 solicitors will be made redundant.

“We’ll buy in the service, because [they are] incompetent. They’re not doing a good job.

“What I want to look at now is the women so it is ongoing, I would like it to be at great pace but I can tell you now if we suddenly drove massive redundancies the liberals would walk away.”

In a statement announcing his resignation, Harrison said: “Earlier today (2 November) I wrote to the Chief Executive of Leicestershire County Council, Jane Moore, advising her of my intention to step down as Leader of the Council.

“This was following advice I received from my Deputy Leader and Chief Whip.

“It has been the honour of my life to lead the first Reform UK administration at County Hall following the county council elections in May 2025.”

Prior to this, Harrison had apologised for his comments. He had said: “I would like to apologise unreservedly to the staff and officers of the county council for any hurt, distress or offence caused by the publication of these comments, which were made during a heated meeting with the expectation of privacy and confidentiality.

“However, I would like to stress that these discussions were just that, and I have not given any instruction or direction to officers in these matters and that there has not been any discussion nor agreement on these issues with officers.”

The comments that led to Harrison’s resignation were made at a Reform party meeting.

Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward