Reform council leader quits after staff comments leaked

Dan Harrison has resigned as leader of Leicestershire County Council after a recording of his comments about staff redundancies was published online. The episode matters because it prompted an apology, calls from the Conservative opposition for his removal, and questions about how council employees were discussed.

Harrison said he decided to step down after taking advice from senior Reform colleagues; deputy leader Kevin Crook is acting leader. In the recording, Harrison referred to making 76 council solicitors redundant, called them “incompetent” and then mentioned looking at “the women”. He said the remarks were taken out of context, denied that staffing decisions were based on gender, and will remain a councillor for Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Reform remains the largest party and runs the council as a minority administration.