'Refuse to integrate' row: Reform rejects translation services motion

Why it matters: The £283,000 translation budget is primarily spent on statutory services the council is legally required to provide. These include written translations and spoken interpreting, British Sign Language support for deaf residents, assistance for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and support for Ukrainian families accepted into the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Refusing to fund them would not be a legal option.

The details: The leaflet, which was sent to thousands of homes, reads: "The finances of Tory-run Suffolk Council are a mess. The CEO is paid £192,000 per year, £20,000 more than the Prime Minister. £537,000 spent on debt interest payments every single week. £283,000 spent on translation services for those who refuse to integrate."

The motion: The Greens, now the official opposition at Suffolk County Council with 13 councillors, tabled a motion at yesterday's full council meeting asking councillors to state their support for the authority's translation services. The motion fell by 38 votes to 30, with Reform voting against the motion.

What they're saying: New Reform county council leader Michael Hadwen called it a "political stunt" and stressed to the chamber that political stunts wouldn't be tolerated under his leadership.

Councillor Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green Group, said Reform UK had used a "cheap, dog whistle tactic" to "marginalise a whole group of people," adding that the motion was a straightforward attempt to hold the new administration to account.

"It is deeply concerning that at the first opportunity, the Reform-led county council votes against valuing the translation services that help unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, Homes for Ukraine guests, as well as providing sign language for residents with hearing impairment," he said.

"We were accused of pulling a political stunt for merely trying to hold Reform to account for the divisive language in their election literature. We asked them to stand by their claim that those in receipt of these services are 'refusing to integrate'."

Councillor Beccy Hopfensperger, a former cabinet member for adult social care, said Reform's election leaflets made for "eye-catching slogans" but were "far from reality." She added: "Translation services are not about encouraging separation — they are about fairness, safeguarding, dignity and ensuring people can access the support they need."

The other side: Reform councillors said the motion was "playing political games" and refused to address why the claim in their election literature had been made or distance themselves from it.

Councillor Simon Aalders, the newly appointed cabinet member for children's services, said his party would not engage with the "stunt" and would vote the motion down — drawing audible gasps from the chamber.

"We're focused on delivering efficient, high-quality services for the residents of Suffolk and not on wasting time on this sort of posturing," he said.

The bottom line: Reform UK voted against the motion, vowing to reduce council waste. The council remains legally required to provide translation services.

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