In Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticised Reform UK for planning to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 a year, saying the money should be spent on front-line services instead.
The council’s interim leader, George Finch, said the move was necessary because council staff have been unable to come up with “imaginative ideas” to resolve key issues.
The 19-year-old was put in charge of the council after Reform’s previous council leader resigned, citing health reasons.
Challenged over whether this was a good use of taxpayers’ money, Farage told the BBC: “At the moment, we’re finding that we’re very, very hamstrung.
“We’re going into existing administrations, we’re facing obstructionism in many places.
“And Warwickshire is a very, very good example.”
He added: “It’s better to have staff who support the will of the democratically elected councillors than it is to have public sector staff opposing them.”
Warwickshire County Council has been approached for comment.
Farage said that in some areas Reform was “working reasonably well with existing administrations” but in others there was “genuine, deliberate obstructionism”.
He added that some officials “don’t want to show us the books” and where money is being spent.
