Reform UK plans to scrap EDI policies at Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire County Council is preparing a shift in its internal administrative approach, as the newly elected Reform UK leadership moves to implement a series of changes targeting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies. Following their victory in the local elections held on May 2025, the party is using the council as a test case for a broader strategy intended to be exported to other authorities under their control.

The proposed changes, outlined in a cabinet position paper titled Equality Before the Council, include the removal of EDI training modules, the cessation of EDI-related branding and awareness campaigns, and the dissolution of identity-based staff networks. The leadership claims these steps are necessary to reverse what they describe as years of EDI creep fostered under the previous Conservative administration. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice stated that the party is fulfilling a pledge made during the local election campaign to rip out the toxic EDI culture from every council we control.

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Policy Status and Implementation

Despite the rhetoric surrounding the announcement, the proposals do not yet constitute formal council policy. A council spokesperson confirmed that no decisions regarding the day-to-day operations of the local authority have been finalized, noting that the position paper must first navigate formal governance processes. Council officers are currently reviewing the document to ensure any eventual policy remains compliant with statutory requirements before it reaches the cabinet for discussion and potential approval.

Council leader Martin Murray, who previously managed nightclubs, framed the move as an application of a simple philosophy: Equality means the same rules and same respect for every person, whether on a night out or inside a government authority. Deputy leader Hayley Coles argued that the existing frameworks have historically focused on groups rather than individuals, stating, Every person who comes into contact with Staffordshire County Council is an individual of equal worth and standing, not a representative of a group or a proxy for a cause.

Broader Context and Criticisms

The plans in Staffordshire are viewed by some observers as part of a wider trend in Reform-led authorities. Think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has warned that this agenda could complicate relationships between councils and the charity sector. James Somerville, head of policy at the NPC, noted that charities focused on diversity or climate change might find it more challenging to engage with Reform-led councils than with those managed by other parties. He suggested that the reduction of local authority funding for such causes could become a serious concern.

Academic reaction has been cautious. Dr Philip Catney, a senior lecturer in politics at Keele University, described the proposals as virtue signalling that lacks specific operational details, characterizing the strategy as an import of a Trump-style, American approach to equality policies. Similar sentiment was echoed in reports where observers noted that while Reform’s ambitions are grand, their early actions across England have been largely symbolic, often involving the removal of flags or the reassignment of specific committee briefs rather than structural fiscal overhauls.

What to Watch Next

• Governance Review: Council officers will continue to vet the Equality Before the Council paper to ensure it adheres to the Equality Act and other legal mandates.
• Cabinet Approval: A formal meeting of the council's cabinet is expected to be scheduled to debate and vote on the draft policy.
• Impact on Staff Groups: The potential dissolution of networks such as the Black and Brown Heritage Network, The Proud Network, and the Neurodiversity Forum remains a focal point for scrutiny.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has stated that local authorities are independent employers who are responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces. As Reform UK manages public services across the country, political analysts remain focused on whether these administrative changes will yield the financial savings the party claims or if they will face legal and operational hurdles as they attempt to reconcile their campaign promises with the statutory obligations of local government.