Reform UK accused of hypocrisy as job listings contradict leader’s hardline stance on remote work
Reform UK has come under fire for apparent double standards after it was revealed that the party is advertising several remote-working positions—despite its leader, Nigel Farage, vocally opposing the practice.
Following Reform UK’s strong showing in last week’s local elections—where it gained control of ten councils across England, including Durham, Lancashire and Staffordshire—Farage announced sweeping plans to reshape local government, borrowing inspiration from Elon Musk’s controversial “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) in the United States.
Farage promised to clamp down on remote working, claiming it hampers productivity and drains public resources. “No more work from home, increased productivity,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, framing it as the first step in a wider campaign to slash council spending and refocus services. He also took aim at spending on climate initiatives and diversity programmes, which he labelled as outside the proper remit of local government.
However, scrutiny of the party’s own hiring practices has sparked a backlash. Several job postings for roles such as “regional director” include “home working with occasional travel” as a key benefit, directly undermining the party’s anti-remote rhetoric.
Critics were quick to pounce. Labour MP Stella Creasy posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the contradiction “glorious hypocrisy”.
The backlash raises questions about the sincerity and consistency of Reform UK’s policy platform. While Farage rails against working from home in the public sector, his own party appears happy to embrace it behind the scenes.
This episode is likely to fuel further debate over Reform UK’s credibility as it seeks to position itself as a serious political force. For a party that has styled itself as the voice of “common sense”, the disconnect between its rhetoric and reality may prove damaging.
