Reform UKs Lee Anderson to Councillors - 'Your snouts have been in the trough for far too long'

June 2nd, 2025

Lee Anderson took to X earlier following a post from Zia Yusuf.

Lee Anderson posted:

There is going to be some very worried ex and current councillors right now.

Your snouts have been in the trough for far too long. We will make sure tax payers money is spent on services and not on you or your vanity projects.

Zia Yusuf had previously posted:

Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

A letter from Zia Yusuf's was also posted:

REFORM UK

Kent County Council

D.O.G.E Request for Co-operation

To Whom It May Concern,

26 May 2025

Following the outcome of the recent local elections and the formation of a new administration under the Reform Party, the Council's leadership has resolved to undertake a review of the Council's financial management, procurement activity, and associated governance arrangements as a part of their role as elected councillors.

The Leader, to understand council business, is entitled to all information available under the Local Government Act 1972, the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the common law 'need to know' principle, and in the public interest.

This review is part of Reform's commitment to transparency, accountability, the prudent management of public funds and the highest standards in public life. Conducting this work was a core part of Reform's local manifesto. We believe it is in the public interest to ensure that the Council's financial and procurement systems are robust, lawful, and value-driven.

To that end, Kent Council has appointed the D.O.G.E team, a unit of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, whose names are appended to this letter, to conduct this review on our behalf. The scope of the review includes but is not limited to:

Contractual arrangements with suppliers and consultants,

All capital expenditure,

Use of framework agreements and direct awards,

Any off-book or contingent liabilities,

Use of reserves and financial resilience,

Any audit flags raised by internal or external auditors in the last three years.

We request that all relevant council officers provide the D.O.G.E team with full and prompt access to:

Council-held documents, reports, and records (electronic and paper), Relevant finance, procurement, audit, and contract data,

Meeting minutes and correspondence concerning major procurements, Any internal investigations or whistleblowing reports relevant to financial matters.

Any additional documents that might be of assistance

The D.O.G.E team is acting under the authority of the Council and is subject to strict duties of confidentiality. They are bound by data protection obligations and professional standards, and any concerns about their conduct should be referred directly to the Chief Executive or to the undersigned.

Should you resist this request, we are ready to pass a council motion to compel the same and will consider any obstruction of our councillors duties to be gross misconduct. We trust this will not be required.

Please ensure that the necessary arrangements are made to enable their work, and that your teams are instructed to provide full cooperation. We would be grateful if you could appoint a liaison officer within your senior management team to coordinate this process.

Yours sincerely,

Linden kemkan

Cllr Linden Kemkaran

Leader, Kent County Council

Nigel Farage MP

Leader, Reform UK

Zia Yusuf

Chairman, Reform UK

AyesToTheRight