Richard Tice has a trump card to play when it comes to local government. Heading up Reform’s efforts to smash local council waste, Reform shadow deputy PM and shadow business secretary has weathered criticism that Reform has not been able to find savings it hoped for and has, upon occasion, had to raise local taxes.

Yet, the only reason this was needed in the first place is because of the woeful state of local government finances. And why? Labour-Tory uniparty mismanagement. That’s why!

The Tories, for starters, allowed uncontrolled overspending to cover spiralling educational needs cost such as SEND. Some Labour councils meanwhile have investments so risky auditors won’t even sign off on them. So bad have things got in Warrington that CCTV is being taken down to save a few bob.

Far better then for Reform to reluctantly raise local taxes in order to avoid what are now Reform-led councils collapsing, something which would haunt Reform when it pitches itself as ready for national leadership.

Ultimately, despite Labour-Tory howls of derision about Reform now putting taxes up, Reform and Tice have a trump card: it is thanks to disastrous mismanagement by the Conservatives and equally hapless Labour parties at local level that this has been necessary, all overseen incidentally by their national parties while in office.

As May’s local elections are upon us – and they are only back on thanks to a legal challenge by Reform – Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have the ultimate ace to play. Yes, at local and national levels they would love to cut taxes. But no, that isn’t impossible right now, thanks to inept leadership by Labour and the Tories.

Far from a humbling U-turn, for Reform and Tice this is the ultimate trump card!