POLITICAL leaders at Herefordshire Council have hit back at claims they are enabling Reform UK to get a foothold in the county by engaging in ‘coalition-washing’.

An informal coalition has been formed in Ross-on-Wye between the county’s sole Reform town councillor, Richard McEvoy, its two Conservative members, and four independents affiliated with the Independents for Herefordshire county group, to better oppose the town’s Liberal Democrat majority.

County LibDem leader Cllr Terry James has now said of this: “Residents are entitled to ask whether this arrangement is about practical cooperation, or whether it is helping Reform UK present itself as moderate, mainstream and easy to work with ahead of future elections.

“By associating themselves with Independents and Conservatives locally, they gain something politically valuable: legitimacy,” he wrote.

Independents for Herefordshire county leader Cllr Liz Harvey has now accused Cllr James of ‘making mischief’ over the issue.

The Ross town councillors “have been working together to get better outcomes for their residents” – but this “has nothing to do with” the recently formally registered Independents for Herefordshire party, she maintained.

“There is no overlap whatsoever between the values, behaviours and policies of i4H and those of Reform UK,” she added.

A local Tory spokesperson said of the Ross situation: “whilst there is no formal ‘coalition’, we will work with anyone where appropriate to ensure that the actions taken by the town council are in the best interests of residents.”

Meanwhile Cllr McEvoy, supported by coalition colleagues, is urging residents to attend a town council meeting on June 8 in order to support moves to give any resident the right to put questions at council meeting, even if unrelated to agenda items.

Reform UK are expected to make inroads when Herefordshire goes to the polls in less than a year’s time, when the chances of a single party emerging in sole control of the county appear slim.