Conservative leaders at Shire Hall have issued a challenge to Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, urging him to engage in a public debate after the party distributed what they deemed to be “misleading” propaganda to postal voters. The letter sent by Reform to postal voters in Gloucestershire accused the Tory-run Gloucestershire County Council of “wasting vast amounts of taxpayer money, running up huge debts, and continuously cutting services.”
In response, Tory finance cabinet member Lynden Stowe (Campden-Vale) penned an open letter to Mr. Farage, disputing the accuracy of the claims made. Stowe highlighted that Farage’s figures were “clearly wrong” and taken out of context. Stowe emphasized that the council tax rise is different from what Farage had stated and stressed the need to consider the inflation rate over the same period.
Furthermore, Stowe clarified the context of the council’s long-term debt and its relation to the council’s healthy revenue reserves, cash balances, and investments. He invited Farage to a private meeting to provide a detailed briefing on the county council’s finances to address any concerns or to participate in a head-to-head public debate in Gloucestershire on the matter.
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Reform UK is yet to confirm whether Mr. Farage will accept the invitation for a public debate or private briefing. A spokesman for Reform UK reiterated their stance, asserting that their figures are accurate and criticizing the performance of Conservative councils nationwide.