Reform UK spent thousands of pounds less in travel expenses compared to its Conservative predecessors, with officials claiming it was “morally wrong to claim every penny” available.
New figures released on Wednesday (April 22) showed that Reform councillors at Nottinghamshire County Council claimed back £7,289 in travel expenses during the party’s first year in charge of the council.
That is down 81 per cent on the figure recorded by the Tories, who previously ran the council before the 2025 May local elections.
When comparing both parties’ travel claims for the 2025/26 financial year, the Conservatives claimed back £11,889 – that’s £4,600 more than Reform despite having 23 fewer councillors on the authority.
The current make-up of the council sees Reform UK in control with 41 seats out of 66, while the Tories have 18, Labour have four and the independent Nottinghamshire Alliance group holds three seats.
Further data released this week shows 31 per cent of Reform councillors claimed back their travel receipts in 2025/26 compared to 77 per cent of Conservative members.
This comes out at an average of £560.69 per councillor that claimed for Reform and an average of £849.21 per councillor that claimed for the Tories.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Reform’s finance councillor, Stuart Matthews, said his party did not “claim every penny” for a reason.
He said: “We don’t as a group dispute that anybody can claim expenses.
“All we’re saying is in these tough economic times, the Reform group came in to do things far different – we think sometimes it’s morally wrong to claim every penny you can for expenses.”
Cllr Matthews said his group’s “two biggest takers” were the authority’s chair and vice chair who do “hundreds of miles on civic duties”.
He continued: “We’ve had enough slating about the flags. These [lower] expenses over the next three years would pay for the flags and poles if you think about it.
“I’m not suggesting they’re breaking any rules, but perhaps they’ll think about things in a different way.”
Cllr Matthews said he has not personally claimed any travel back and the four Labour councillors on the authority have not put in travel expense claims either.
The Conservatives have disputed Reform’s claims though, with Cllr Sam Smith, leader of the Tories at the council, saying they were “misleading”.
He said: “The claims made by Reform UK on councillor travel expenses are misleading and lack important context.
“In any workplace – public or private – it’s entirely normal for employees to be reimbursed for necessary travel undertaken as part of their duties. Councillors are no different.
“At a time when fuel prices remain high, it’s reasonable and appropriate that councillors, like workers in any business, can claim back the cost of travelling to carry out their job role.
“While criticising legitimate travel expenses, [Reform] have overseen £75,000 on flags and £40,000 on a council magazine delivered to every home in Nottinghamshire. These costs alone dwarf the travel expenses they seek to attack.”
Cllr Smith continued that travel expenses allow councillors to be “present” and “visible” in the communities they represent.
He added: “Higher travel claims reflect councillors who are out in their communities, attending meetings, supporting residents, and doing the job properly. If others are claiming significantly less, residents are entitled to ask whether that reflects a lower level of on-the-ground engagement.
“This is about priorities. Conservatives believe in supporting frontline representation—ensuring councillors can do the job they were elected to do. Reform’s approach appears to favour headline-grabbing comparisons while diverting attention from their own spending choices.”
