Reform Uk leader Nigel Farage visited Stanley, County Durham, criticising Durham County Council’s financial management.
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00:00Reform UK leader Nigel Farage promised residents a fresh new start after launching an explosive attack on Durham County Council's financial management by claiming it has failed residents.
00:11Mr Farage criticised recent council spending and slammed a council tax increase of 22% in five years while racking up £409 million in debt.
00:19On a visit to Stanley this week ahead of next month's local election, he vowed to fix the local authority by cutting taxes and reinvesting in local services.
00:27Durham County Council has failed residents, he said. They've racked up eye-watering debt and squandered local people's hard-earned cash on pointless salaries and vanity schemes.
00:37When something is broken, you need a fresh approach. You've just got to look at the numbers of what's been happening within the county.
00:43There's a very strong argument that the money is being misallocated and misspent.
00:48And I get the feeling the county council runs for itself almost more than the residents and the voters.
00:53Eye-watering council spends such as the chief executive's £213,000 salary, which is more than the prime minister, and almost £16 million on external training and consultants were also criticised by the party.
01:06But the joint administration in charge of the council, consistent of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents, hit back at Mr Farage's rant.
01:15This council is not broken, but it would soon be if reform got a hold of it, a spokesperson for the joint administration said.
01:23Council leaders also blamed the former UKIP leader of talking down County Durham.
01:27The party has identified County Durham as a battleground region to help grow its popularity and political status in the North East.
01:35A total of 99 candidates have been selected to stand for the party in every single seat at the local election in May.
01:41The party has been selected for the party.