Leicestershire Reform Leader Resigns Following Leaked Audio of Staff Cut Comments
Dan Harrison steps down as Leicestershire County Council leader after leaked recordings show him disparaging council staff and discussing mass redundancies.
POLICY WIRE — Leicestershire, UK — The leader of the Reform UK minority administration at Leicestershire County Council has announced his resignation following the online release of controversial remarks regarding potential job cuts.
Dan Harrison, who has headed the council leadership for the past 18 months, officially confirmed he is stepping down on Monday. His decision followed a period of intense pressure from opposition members and the public emergence of private audio recordings.
The controversy was triggered by recorded comments in which Harrison discussed staff redundancies within the local authority. In the leaked material, he stated that 76 council solicitors would face job losses.
During the recording, the leader reportedly characterized the legal staff as “incompetent” and offered further criticism regarding their performance. Harrison later issued an apology for the remarks made in the audio.
Harrison communicated his intention to leave down to Jane Moore, the chief executive of Leicestershire County Council. He had held the leadership position since May 2025.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
