A newly elected Reform councillor has admitted she does not understand the basic rules of council proceedings, causing a stir in Kirklees council chambers. Councillor Sarah Wood, put forward by Reform as a potential leader, confessed she has no grasp of the constitution, standing orders, or amendments during a heated meeting to elect a new council leader.
Stalemate in Kirklees Council
Reform holds 29 seats on Kirklees Council, just six short of an overall majority. The party nominated Cllr Wood to challenge a Greens-led coalition. However, the Conservative group refused to back the Greens, leading to a deadlock. A proposal for a head-to-head vote between Green candidate Andrew Cooper and Wood required suspending standing orders, a move that exposed Wood's lack of experience.
Viral Admission of Ignorance
In a widely shared clip, Cllr Wood stated: 'I do not understand the constitution. I have not had sufficient time to read that as yet. I don’t understand what standing orders are, what they’re made up of, nor do I understand what an amendment is.' She added that Reform councillors might 'vote for something that we don’t understand' and deemed the process 'not democratic.' Fellow Reform councillor Rob Butler echoed her concerns, saying they were being 'manoeuvred with a game play when we do not know the rules.'
The head-to-head vote was ultimately defeated, even by Reform members, and the meeting was adjourned until May 28. Independent councillor Tanisha Bramwell called the situation 'appalling,' arguing that if councillors cannot meet basic requirements, they should not seek leadership roles. She stressed the council cannot afford further incompetence, citing past failures in council tax, youth services, and social housing.
Reform's Troubled Start
Reform won over 1,400 seats in the May local elections but has already lost 22 councillors in two weeks. Stuart Prior resigned after racist posts emerged, and Glenn Gibbins was suspended for offensive comments about Nigerian residents. Deputy leader Darren Grimes blamed a 'failure of the vetting process.' Reform UK has been approached for comment.
