The Reform UK leader of Leicestershire County Council has stepped down after leaked comments about council staff drew calls for his resignation. Dan Harrison announced on Monday 2 November that he was leaving the role he had held since the county council elections in May 2025.

Harrison said he had taken advice from senior Reform colleagues and that deputy leader Kevin Crook had taken over as acting leader. He said leading the county first Reform administration had been the honour of his life, and that he would remain a councillor representing the Ashby-de-la-Zouch division.

The leaked remarks

The resignation followed the release of a recording from a private meeting of the council Reform group, in which Harrison was heard saying 76 solicitors would be made redundant. He described the solicitors as incompetent and added that he wanted to look next at the women, in remarks that were then shared on social media.

Harrison later confirmed he made the comments and apologised unreservedly to staff and officers for any hurt, distress or offence caused, saying they were made during a heated meeting held in the expectation of privacy and confidentiality.

Pressure from opposition

The Conservative opposition at County Hall had called for Harrison to resign, saying his position had become untenable given concerns about the treatment of council employees. Opposition leader Deborah Taylor said serious questions still needed to be raised about the episode.

Pressure had also grown inside his own group after councillors were asked on 27 October whether they were happy with his leadership. The Reform group remains the largest party on the authority and runs it as a minority administration, with a new leader to be elected by the council in due course.

Sources: British Bulletin, 2 November 2026; Harborough FM report on the same announcement.