Reform council leader steps down after leaked remarks on staff redundancies
Dan Harrison, leader of Leicestershire County Council’s Reform administration, resigns following the release of comments about solicitor redundancies.
Leader of Reform‑led council resigns
Dan Harrison announced on Monday that he will step down from his role as leader of Leicestershire County Council, a position he has held since May 2025.
He said the decision came after seeking advice from senior Reform colleagues and that deputy council leader Kevin Crook will assume the duties of acting leader.
Harrison also stated that it has been the “honour of his life” to lead the county council’s first Reform administration.
Background to the resignation
The resignation follows a leaked recording released on social media in which Harrison said:
“There’s 76 solicitors will be made redundant.”
“We’ll buy in the service, because [they are] incompetent. They’re not doing a good job.”
“What I want to look at now is the women so it is ongoing, I would like it to be at great pace but I can tell you now if we suddenly drove massive redundancies the liberals would walk away.”
He had previously apologised for the remarks, which were made during a Reform party meeting on a Tuesday, and insisted the comments had been taken out of context.
Political reaction
The Conservative opposition at County Hall called for Harrison to resign after the comments were leaked. Conservative group leader Deborah Taylor had called for an emergency vote to try to oust him.
Earlier on Monday, Harrison told the BBC he would not step down, but later confirmed his resignation after discussions with Crook and group whip Andrew Hamilton‑Gray.
Future role
Harrison said he will remain a councillor, continuing to represent the Ashby‑de‑la‑Zouch division.
The council now looks to its acting leader to navigate the fallout from the leaked remarks.
