Tice defends Reform UK-led councils over tax rises and cuts

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has defended decisions to raise council tax and cut spending at local authorities led by the party in England.

Tice faced questions about the party's record in local government in a round of interviews with BBC radio stations ahead of its annual conference this week.

He was asked why Reform UK-led councils had raised council tax, with presenters suggesting the party had given the impression it would do the opposite.

Tice argued Reform UK councillors had shown they were "financially prudent" and were "doing a good job of getting to grips with wasteful spending".

The BBC interviews focused on Reform UK's policies in local government, where the party gained control of 24 councils following local elections this May and last year.

But they also covered national issues and the role of Nigel Farage, following a difficult summer of questions about a £5m gift received and not declared by Reform UK's leader.

The gift, and the parliamentary investigation into it, attracted more attention than the party would have liked in recent months, distracting from its policy announcements on immigration and welfare.

Asked whether he would be prepared to lead the party, should Farage stand down, Tice insisted "Nigel is going nowhere" and would lead the party into the next general election.