Reform's new Rochdale boss - who might be gone in 12 months - on immigration, the cost of living crisis and housing

Reform UK has a new leader in Rochdale and he believes his party can be an effective opposition in the town hall

Reform UK isn’t just about tackling immigration, according its new boss in Rochdale.

John Taylor has taken over as leader of the party in the borough. Coun Taylor was the leader of the Conservatives on the council until May 2024. He quit the party a few months later over ‘petty squabbles’.

He joined Reform UK last year, teaming up with Coun Jordan Tarrant-Short, who he has replaced as leader. Coun Taylor denied rumours of a power struggle.

Following a successful local elections for his party, Reform has 15 councillors in the chamber and is now the official opposition to the Labour-controlled council.

Coun Taylor says his priority is make sure his team properly scrutinises Labour’s decision making and push its ideas for positive change.

He said: “The message from the public at the local elections was that people wanted change. There is clearly a mandate for change and holding this Labour council to account.

“Our priorities are to deal with deprivation, a cost of living crisis and a major housing crisis. A lady rang me a day before the elections and said her grandson has been on the housing waiting list for five years.

“It’s just wrong when someone can’t get a property in that time.”

Coun Taylor’s reign as Reform leader may only last a year though, as he has long said that he intends to step down at the end of his term in 2027. His mind has not wavered on that so far, but not for the lack of trying of his Reform UK colleagues, he says.

The Wardle, Shore and Littleborough ward representative conceded that Reform’s strong stance on immigration has been key to its rise in popularity, but believes the party can address it on a local level.

He admitted they cannot control the number of migrants coming into the country, but said he felt Rochdale takes in ‘more than [its] fair share’.

That, he claimed, directly impacts the number of houses available to people from Rochdale, worsening the housing shortage.

Coun Taylor said: “I am told that Rochdale takes in more than its fair share of refugees. We should play our part but take our fair share.

“We are elected to represent Rochdale so if we are unfairly disadvantaged we should do something about that. We can’t influence how many people are coming into the country apart from lobby our MPs.”

His strategy for how Reform UK would address the issue Rochdale was vague, but he suggested controlling the number of homes given to refugees.

Coun Taylor didn’t outline how his team would help people ‘get off welfare and into work’ – a key mantra for Nigel Farage’s party nationally. Rochdale’s Reform UK boss said he and his colleagues would scrutinise Labour’s plan on how to provide support for people trying to find work.

He spoke about young people living in the area with good degrees and qualifications unable to find work.

Asked about Labour’s Atom Valley project, which would bring around 20,000 jobs to Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, Coun Taylor said he supports the scheme. But he objects to the thousands of houses that would be built in the area as part of the project.

As the leader of the opposition, he said he was willing to work with Labour to benefit the people of Rochdale.

“We won’t go against anything that the opposite party puts forward,” Coun Taylor added. “Why would we object to something without reason? That wouldn’t help anyone.

“We want to see positive change in Rochdale. There are many areas in the borough where that change is absolutely needed. It should be about how this helps our residents.”

Asked if Reform were eyeing up full control over the council at next year’s local elections, Coun Taylor responded by saying ‘there is a lot of water to go under the bridge’ before then.

Moving forward, Coun Taylor says Reform UK’s only ambition is to prove they can act as a good opposition and hold Labour to account.

He now has 13 new councillors to train up on how to use the council IT system, manage case work and arrange local surgeries so they can reach out to residents.

He added: “People have been enthused by politics following the change nationally. I hope that will encourage people to get involved in their communities.

“All my new councillors are keen to get stuck in, which is great. It’s refreshing for me to see their youthful enthusiasm and it is a pleasure for me to lead them.”