Critics now accuse Reform UK of a major U-turn. This follows a surprising decision on diversity courses. Specifically, their councillors attended an equalities session. However, they had promised an equalities training boycott earlier. The party controls West Northamptonshire Council. Leader Mark Arnull initially made the boycott pledge. He said his group would skip all such sessions. Despite this, twenty-five Reform members attended training.
Consequently, opposition leaders are crying hypocrisy. Conservative leader Daniel Lister voiced strong criticism. He said Reform cannot be trusted to keep their word. Moreover, their actions show a clear contradiction. Liberal Democrat leader Jonathan Harris agreed completely. He called this another example of saying one thing but doing another.
Initially, Arnull stated a firm national policy. In May, he refused any equality or climate change training. The council then incorporated EDI into a broader session. Importantly, this new session covered lawful decision-making. A council spokesperson explained the change. They combined topics for practical scheduling. This helped manage the volume for new members.
Therefore, Reform councillors attended this wider training. Leader Mark Arnull defended the attendance. He said the training covered vital legal duties. It included the Equalities Act alongside other laws. He believes all councillors must understand their responsibilities. Furthermore, he stated Reform believes in equal treatment for everyone.
However, opponents call the session “rebadged” training. Labour leader Sally Keeble expressed confusion. She noted two-thirds of Reform attended under the new name. She questions what the party truly stands for. Additionally, she highlighted a similar pattern on net-zero goals. The administration tried to scrap local milestones.
The party won forty-two council seats in May. This training controversy creates its first major scrutiny. Ultimately, the key issue remains a broken promise. The announced equalities training boycott did not happen. This decision leads to serious political embarrassment. Now, everyone is watching for the next move.
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