Reform candidates are making promises they can’t keep

In the UK, it’s sadly common for politicians to make promises they have no intention of keeping. Usually, however, they at least promise things they could plausibly achieve. This is not the case with what some would-be Reform councillors are promising:

Local election leaflets based on pretty much everything that the local council doesn't do – who would have thought it,,,,, pic.twitter.com/U0Ndt64yWv

— dave lawrence 🐟🐟🐠 (@dave43law) April 20, 2026

What can Reform do for you?

The full post is from the Facebook page Reform Are Not Your Friends. We’re going to have a look to see if we can confirm their analysis:

1️⃣ “Put Londoners first for social housing”

❌ Reality: That’s set by central government and the Mayor of London. Watford isn’t in London.

Just because Watford isn’t in London, that doesn’t mean they can’t prioritise Londoners. It would be a strange thing to do, obviously, but would it be any stranger than this?

🚨 NEW – Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council are set to piss away £75k on flags while 22% of local children live in poverty

By @jjgjourno https://t.co/9QcUFD66yt

— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) October 24, 2025

2️⃣ “Oppose housing illegal immigrants in hotels”

❌ Reality: This is controlled by the Home Office. Councils don’t decide asylum accommodation.

To be completely fair, councils can “oppose” local migrant hotels. Whether it will make any difference is another matter entirely.

There are good reasons to oppose the policy of boxing migrants in hotels (as opposed to allowing them to live and work in communities). Reform aren’t making that argument, though; they’re just punching down, because they’re bullies.

3️⃣ “Support our struggling high streets”

✅ Reality: This is one of the few things the council actually can influence. Local investment, planning, events.

Good on Reform for getting one right!

4️⃣ “End ULEZ and the war on drivers”

❌ Reality: The Ultra Low Emission Zone is run by the Mayor of London. Watford has no authority over it.

I.e. Reform have lost the war on drivers.

Embarrassing, honestly.

It’s also embarrassing that Reform is yet another party which refuses to acknowledge the benefits of cycling and mass public transport:

Even if you never use public transit, it helps make your drive easier. Buses & trains remove cars from the street. pic.twitter.com/p7t0XV23Tc

— Andy Boenau (@Boenau) April 13, 2026

If you’re a diehard motorist, you should want as many people on buses and bikes as possible.

Unless you’re actually a diehard ‘sitting in traffic’ person, obviously, in which case carry on.

5️⃣ “Crack down on anti-social behaviour”

❌ Reality: Policing is handled by Hertfordshire Constabulary. The council plays a supporting role at best.

Councils do cover things which fall under the blanket of ‘anti-social behaviour’ (graffiti, fly-tipping, etc). At the same time, candidate Mark Dixon doesn’t clarify how he’ll fix these issues; he just says he’ll magically save money elsewhere.

As we’ve seen with the Reform-run councils, these savings keep failing to materialise. In fact, Reform have actually increased spending in some instances – including on their own pay packets.