Reform UK Calderdale

27/09/2026

Resharing this post as some people have told us they haven't seen the full, accurate account and have been left worried by the politically driven claims that are circulating.

🔷 Calderdale’s Young Carers Service is continuing. The change concerns transport arrangements for activities, where those who are able to make their own way are encouraged to do so and the Council will only provide transport to those who can't. 🔷

26/09/2026

☀️A beautiful day to be out and about in Sowerby Bridge Ward. It was lovely to hear so much support for Reform on the doorsteps, including from new supporters who told us they’re impressed with what we’ve done so far. Some residents were so pleased to see us they even invited us in. Thank you for the warm welcome! 🙏

This afternoon we were in Brighouse, catching up with residents and sharing our latest newsletter.

The only downside of the day was hearing the unnecessary worry stirred up by the Calder Valley MP and opposition councillors, who chose to misrepresent the position around our Young Carers Service. Our earlier post ⬇️ sets out the facts and addresses the claims they’ve been making.

While the other parties play their silly games, we’re out talking to residents and getting on with the job.➡️🇬🇧

26/09/2026

🚨We've noticed a great deal of misinformation circulating over the last 24 hours. Labour, the Greens and their allies in the media are once again using children's services as a political football.

We understand why young carers and their families may be worried by what they have read. They deserve a clear explanation.

So let's set the record straight. Calderdale’s Young Carers Service is continuing. The change concerns transport arrangements for activities, where those who are able to make their own way are encouraged to do so and the Council will only provide transport to those who can't.

This was a decision by Council officers and not by us as political leads but it appears an entirely reasonable one in the context of rising demand and the need to get the budget under control. We will be meeting with those affected to hear directly from them, their views on the change.

This stands in contrast to the hypocrisy of Calderdale Labour, who did not show the same compassion when their administration withdrew funding from Gateway Youth Club, which supported children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

At a scrutiny meeting in March, Cllr Adam Wilkinson defended the Labour-run council’s approach to youth provision. He said it no longer offered a universal service but ran a targeted service, and spoke about the need to prioritise under financial pressure. His remarks are in the clip below. ⬇

Scrutiny of the change to young carers’ transport is, of course, welcome. But the alarm caused by Labour and their allies' misleading presentation is disgraceful. Young carers and their families deserve clear facts and individual support, not claims that suggest the entire service is being withdrawn.

24/09/2026

‼️ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY?

Knowing that they couldn't win the argument on the Climate Emergency, Labour's Environment spokesperson Cllr Scott Patient publicly called on people to protest at the Council meeting.

And what followed? Disruption and intimidation to try and prevent your elected representatives from discussing the matter in the Town Hall. Known Labour activists, in fits of hysterics had to be removed from the Council chamber as they tried to stop the meeting going ahead.

People have every right to protest. They have every right to disagree. But democracy also means allowing elected councillors to debate and vote without a council chamber descending into chaos.

All of this seemed clearly staged by opposition councillors in the room who knew they didn't have the strength of argument to win the debate so resorted to the methods of thuggery. It was noticeable that one of them was ready and waiting to film the protestors knowing that this will play well with their extremist base.

Meanwhile Reform Councillors showed their discipline and respect for our democratic process. They did not shout or jeer, they spoke with passion about their ideas to improve Calderdale whilst also giving opposition Councillors the space to say what they wished to.

Reform actively tried to work cross party supporting opposition motions on Care, Retrofitting Homes and Fireworks. In return, the Reform motion on our local environment was met with lies, scaremongering and drunken yobbery.

Disagreement is democracy.
Trying to shout down the democratic process is not.

And the important question remains: what measurable environmental outcome was achieved simply by Calderdale carrying the label “Climate Emergency”.

23/09/2026

LEADER CLLR DAN SUTHERLAND IS FOCUSED ON WHAT DELIVERS FOR CALDERDALE

Excellent to see our Council Leader, Cllr Dan Sutherland, making the case for practical action. Seven years after Calderdale declared a climate emergency, Dan summed up the problem: “A lot of words, a lot of virtues but very little action.”

Labour and the Greens can list climate projects, but they still haven’t shown which one happened because the council adopted the “climate emergency” label. We want to protect Calderdale’s environment and judge policies by what they achieve.

🔹Labour, Cllr Adam Wilkinson is AGAIN spreading misinformation, suggesting Reform regards social care and support for vulnerable children as “waste”.
Show us where Reform has said that, Cllr Wilkinson! Vital services deserve support. They also deserve an honest debate.🔹

And Cllr Hey (Green Party) says we lack ambition. If his idea of ambition is spending on little-used cycle lanes while brushing aside residents’ concerns about battery storage sites, we disagree.

➡️Our ambition is a better Calderdale: practical environmental action, responsible spending and investment where residents need it most.

Dan Sutherland of Calderdale Council pledges not to raise council tax by the maximum amount.

21/09/2026

‼️HOW DARE HE LECTURE US

How dare Andy Burnham lecture anyone about protecting women while his Labour Government houses unvetted strangers in communities across the country and releases thousands of offenders early—including people convicted of violent and sexual crimes.

Women need more than hollow words and staged videos. They need honesty, secure borders and dangerous offenders kept behind bars.

19/09/2026

🎉BUSY DAY, GREAT DAY!

Our teams have been out and about speaking to residents across Brighouse and Northowram & Shelf.

We had some great doorstep conversations and received lots of support. What really stood out was how many people had stopped voting because they had lost faith in the political parties—but are impressed by what Reform has achieved so far in Calderdale and now intend to support us.👍

Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us. ➡️

18/09/2026

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Calderdale Council Leader Dan Sutherland has joined four other Reform UK council and group leaders across West Yorkshire in writing to Mayor Tracy Brabin to oppose proposals for a West Yorkshire tourist tax.

At a time when businesses and families are under pressure from rising costs, we want to see a pro-growth tourism strategy: attracting more visitors, promoting our towns and destinations, supporting local hospitality businesses and improving transport and connectivity.

West Yorkshire needs stronger tourism, thriving local businesses and economic growth—not another tax.

❌ NO 𝗧𝗢 𝗔 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗫.

Reform UK Bradford & Keighley
Reform UK - Wakefield & Rothwell

17/09/2026

📍 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 📍

Our Calderdale Reform team have once again been out and about across the borough—delivering updates, listening to residents and progressing the issues that matter to our communities.

Councillor Paul Hawkaluk, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, joined the Environment Agency and senior council officers in Hebden Bridge to discuss working with the Mayor of West Yorkshire on major flood-defence plans for the area.

We were also pleased to welcome Ben Bradley, Reform UK’s Head of Local Government Delivery, to discuss our progress and how Calderdale’s experience can feed into national policy on how councils should be run and the challenges they may face.

🔹Lots of important work is taking place across the borough by your Reform team - thank you for your support. 🔹

15/09/2026

➡️ Calderdale Reform has submitted a motion to rescind Calderdale’s 2019 Climate Emergency declaration, and we want to explain clearly what sits behind it.

This is not about saying environmental issues do not matter. They do.

It is about whether, seven years on, continuing to operate under an “emergency” declaration is still the best way to deliver practical environmental improvements while making the best use of limited council resources.

Residents have repeatedly raised concerns with us about the impact and cost of some policies associated with the wider net-zero agenda — from large-scale BESS developments and controversial cycle schemes to spending that has not always delivered the benefits originally promised.

⬆️ There is also a wider issue that cannot be ignored: the rising cost of energy and the importance of energy security.

💷 Councils do not set household energy prices, but national energy policy has very real consequences for the people and businesses we represent. Many households already find energy unaffordable, so policies pursued in the name of net zero must be practical, proportionate and mindful of their wider economic impact.

Labour itself went into government promising lower energy bills and greater energy security. Residents are entitled to judge whether those promises are being delivered.

At the same time, many communities across Calderdale are crying out for investment in roads, neighbourhoods, parking, public spaces and community safety.

We believe it is right to review the budgets, projects and officer resources linked to the declaration, assess what is actually working and, where appropriate, redirect discretionary resources to where they can make a greater difference.

This summer has also reminded everyone of the importance of protecting our environment and preparing sensibly for changing conditions.

➡️ That is why the motion does not propose walking away from environmental protection. It specifically reaffirms our commitment to practical, evidence-based environmental measures and supports the work of the Local Environment Partnership.

🔹This is about moving from declarations to delivery.

✅ Protect the environment.
✅ Recognise the pressure of rising energy costs.
✅ Support energy security.
✅ Listen to residents.
✅ Review what isn’t working.
✅ Spend public money wisely.
✅ Deliver practical results for Calderdale.