Bracknell Conservatives Clash with Reform UK Online

Conservatives in Bracknell have accused Reform UK of grandstanding after party supporters clashed on Facebook over a council initiative.

Labour-run Bracknell Forest Council clarified it is not applying for Council of Sanctuary status. It says only initial exploratory work on what sanctuary status could mean for Bracknell Forest took place in 2025/2026.

The row centres on who exposed the work. The Conservatives say their group leader, councillor Dr Gareth Barnard, pushed the issue and challenged the Labour leader, Helen Purnell, while attacking Reform for inaction.

Conservatives also mocked Reform leader Nigel Farage's links to billionaire donor Christopher Harborne and referenced satire around Count Binface, but there are no Reform councillors on Bracknell Forest Council.

Reform-aligned councillors Justin Bellhouse (Bracknell Town Council) and John Edwards (Sandhurst Town Council) did raise the matter at their councils. Reform UK Bracknell says its councillors forced transparency and that motions on Bracknell and Sandhurst councils led Bracknell Forest Council to halt its sanctuary plans.

There was an allegation the Conservatives used AI to make their Facebook post. The party did add an AI label; it's understood the post image was AI-generated and showed an office building with unreadable lettering and the words: Missing Reform UK Bracknell? Conservatives stand strong against Borough of Sanctuary. Securing Bracknell. Protecting our community.

The Bracknell Conservatives have been contacted about their use of AI in the post.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter