Reform UK-led council serving ‘plate of chaos' as deputy leader leaves role
Mr Boam, who is councillor for Whitwick in North West Leicestershire, said in a statement on social media: 'Despite the recent news, nothing's changed, I'll keep fighting for Whitwick at County Hall and doing everything I can to help get a Reform UK government and Nigel Farage as our next prime minister.'
It is currently unclear why Mr Boam no longer holds the two positions in the council.
The leader of the main opposition to the authority, Ms Taylor, said in a statement released on social media that the Reform-led council is delivering a 'shambles'.
She said: 'The Reform Administration at Leicestershire County Council has lacked leadership and direction from the very start.
'So it comes as no surprise to us that Cllr Joseph Boam has been shown the door after just three months as Deputy Leader of Leicestershire County Council and Cabinet Lead Member for Adults.
'Frankly, he was wholly unqualified for such a critical role and lacked the experience or judgment to bring anything of value to the position.
'Adult Social Care and Communities is one of the most important and challenging portfolios in local government.
'It requires steady hands, long-term commitment and a depth of understanding.
'What it has been given instead is instability, poor judgment, and revolving-door appointments.
'At a time when Leicestershire needs stability, vision, and experienced leadership more than ever, residents are being served a plate of chaos.
'Reform promised change, what they're delivering is a shambles.'
A Reform UK source said: 'Joseph deserves thanks for his role in helping to establish the Reform Group at Leicestershire County Council and we wish him well as he moves into a new role where he will continue to support the group's efforts at County Hall.'
Ms Taylor said in a video posted on social media on Monday that the leader of the Reform-led county council, Dan Harrison, had 'sacked' Mr Boam over the weekend.
Reform won 25 out of the 55 seats on the council and formed a minority administration after the local elections in May, taking control from the Conservatives.
Mr Boam was not the youngest Reform councillor with a senior county council position, as 19-year-old George Finch is currently the leader of Warwickshire County Council.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tulsi Gabbard to slash nearly half of ODNI staff
America's top spy agency announced it will 'rightsize' its overall footprint by cutting almost half of all its employees after President Donald Trump directed that members the 'deep state' be rooted out. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sent out an email to Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) employees on Wednesday announcing the launch of 'ODNI 2.0,' the culmination of a months-long effort to reduce redundancies and cut costs, including employees. 'This will reduce ODNI by over 40 percent by the end of the fiscal year 2025 and save taxpayers over $700 million per year,' an ODNI press release announcing the shift says. The move is directly in line with Trump's efforts to reform the intelligence community and root out the 'deep state,' multiple senior ODNI officials who worked on the sweeping review told the Daily Mail. And Trump has given his blessing, too, the officials stressed, noting that Gabbard herself briefed the president on the staff reduction two weeks ago, alongside National Security Advisor Marco Rubio . Created shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, ODNI oversees 18 separate intelligence arms of the U.S. government, serving as a hub designed to connect them. The memo, which was reviewed by the Daily Mail, shares the specifics of the layoffs and has details on how the move better aligns the agency with Trump's vision. 'Mahalo,' the internal announcement ends. In addition to ODNI staffers being let go on Wednesday, the agency has also been working to slim its workforce by not hiring vacant positions, a senior ODNI official shared. The agency is also returning detailees - workers from other intelligence agencies on 'loan' to the ODNI - back to their original agencies. Five senior ODNI officials briefed the Daily Mail and other outlets on the dramatic action just before it was sent out to employees. They stressed that the reforms will help the intelligence community become more agile and reactive to emerging threats after the ODNI has remained 'relatively untouched for 20 years.' 'We couldn't move quickly enough,' one of the ODNI officials said. 'We have to move faster ... and pivot to an elite workforce.' 'DEI was a detriment to national security issues,' another senior ODNI official told the Daily Mail. 'Every position should add value.' The slashings aim to set a framework for a larger intelligence community overhaul, the officials said, teasing that the ODNI's reforms may soon become standard across other federal intel agencies, like the CIA, FBI and others. Several of the senior ODNI officials stated the 2.0 project will more easily enable the spy agency to sunset outdated projects and focus on priorities. Artificial Intelligence and how foreign actors can deploy the technology, for example, is an area of interest for the agency, one senior ODNI official shared. Fighting insurgents abroad, like ISIS, is now less of a focus, they added. Other disciplines, like the ODNI's Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC), are being shut down altogether, and their employees are either being laid off or sent to other parts of the intelligence apparatus. The shake-up also means the National Intelligence University (NIU) will merge with the National Defense University (NDU) into a joint program now overseen by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth instead of the ODNI. A satellite campus for the ODNI in Reston, Virginia - where the National Intelligence Council (NIC) meets - will also be shuttered and all NIC employees will now report to ODNI. Sen. Tom Cotton, the chair of the Senate's intelligence committee, recently put forward a proposal that would limit the number of ODNI staff to 650, about half of the active workforce following Wednesday's announcement. Even some ODNI officials pushed back against Cotton's more drastic cuts, arguing that his number appears to be too small to effectively operate the spy agency. 'In the national security space we're not looking to slash and burn,' a senior ODNI official told the Daily Mail.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Israeli military to call up 60,000 reservists as it plans new phase of Gaza war
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, the official said that the military will be operating in parts of Gaza City where the Israeli military has not yet operated and where Hamas is still active. Israeli troops are already operating in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, and the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, in order to prepare the groundwork for the expanded operation, which is expected to receive approval from the chief of staff in the coming days. It remains unclear when the operation will begin. The official said 60,000 reservists will be called up in the coming month, nearly doubling the number of active reservists to 120,000. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that the objective was to secure the release of the remaining hostages and ensure Hamas and other militants can never again threaten Israel. Hamas-led militants started the war when they attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Hamas says it will only free the rest in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. The planned offensive into Gaza City and the central camps has heightened international condemnation of Israel and fuelled fears of another mass displacement among Palestinians. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in the city and its holds some of the last remnants of critical infrastructure remaining in Gaza. Mediators and Hamas say they have agreed to ceasefire terms, but Israel's response remains unclear as members of Mr Netanyahu's coalition oppose a phased deal that does not 'complete the defeat of Hamas'.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Israeli military to call up 60,000 reservists as it plans new phase of Gaza war
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, the official said that the military will be operating in parts of Gaza City where the Israeli military has not yet operated and where Hamas is still active. Israeli troops are already operating in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, and the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, in order to prepare the groundwork for the expanded operation, which is expected to receive approval from the chief of staff in the coming days. It remains unclear when the operation will begin. Smoke rises following an Israeli army airstrike in Khan Younis (Mariam Dagga/AP) The official said 60,000 reservists will be called up in the coming month, nearly doubling the number of active reservists to 120,000. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that the objective was to secure the release of the remaining hostages and ensure Hamas and other militants can never again threaten Israel. Hamas-led militants started the war when they attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Israeli soldiers work on their tanks (Ariel Schalit/AP) Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Hamas says it will only free the rest in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. The planned offensive into Gaza City and the central camps has heightened international condemnation of Israel and fuelled fears of another mass displacement among Palestinians. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in the city and its holds some of the last remnants of critical infrastructure remaining in Gaza. Mediators and Hamas say they have agreed to ceasefire terms, but Israel's response remains unclear as members of Mr Netanyahu's coalition oppose a phased deal that does not 'complete the defeat of Hamas'.
