Reform UK Wales Leader Dan Thomas’s Barnet Outsourcing Failures 2026

Key Points

• Dan Thomas, the new leader of Reform UK in Wales, served as leader of Barnet Council from 2017 to 2022.
• He claimed to have saved Barnet Council £16m per year through outsourcing initiatives.
• The outsourcing deal with Capita was promised at £500m, aiming to cut staff from 3,200 to 322 while delivering better services and lower costs.
• In reality, the contract suffered a £229m cost overrun, resulting in a £62m financial black hole.
• Fraud incidents saw £2m stolen under the arrangement.
• Approximately 70 per cent of Barnet Council’s services were outsourced, leading to thousands of jobs lost.
• Negative outcomes included roads falling into disrepair, poor service quality such as £8 per library phone call, and an estimated £1 billion of taxpayer money wasted overall.
• The Conservatives, under Thomas’s leadership, lost power in Barnet in 2022.
• Following the 2022 election loss, Dan Thomas stated: “We’ve lost some great councillors this morning, and I am really disappointed for them personally. They have lost through no fault of their own. I think they are victims of a national set of circumstances – the cost of living crisis and ‘partygate’.”
• Councillor Thomas also blamed ward boundary changes in Barnet, claiming they ‘favour Labour more than us.’
• Prior to the election, Thomas supported Boris Johnson publicly.
• After the defeat, he remarked: “It has been a bad night for the Conservatives in London,” leaving Johnson’s leadership decision to Westminster colleagues.

Barnet, North LondonReform UK Wales Leader Dan Thomas’s Barnet Council Tenure Under Scrutiny (North London News) February 14, 2026 – In Barnet, Dan Thomas, now the leader of Reform UK in Wales, oversaw a controversial outsourcing programme as council leader from 2017 to 2022 that promised significant savings but instead led to massive cost overruns and service failures. Thomas touted annual savings of £16m for the council through a £500m deal with Capita, which aimed to slash staff numbers from 3,200 to just 322 while enhancing services. However, the reality saw costs balloon by £229m, leaving a £62m financial black hole, with additional losses from £2m in fraud.

What Were Dan Thomas’s Promises as Barnet Council Leader?

Dan Thomas positioned himself as a reformer during his tenure as Conservative leader of Barnet Council from 2017 to 2022. He frequently highlighted the potential for efficiency gains through large-scale outsourcing.

The flagship initiative was a £500m contract with Capita, intended to streamline operations by drastically reducing in-house staff from 3,200 to 322 positions. Proponents, including Thomas, argued this would deliver better services at lower costs, with Thomas quoted as claiming it saved Barnet Council £16m per year.

This approach extended to 70 per cent of the council’s services being outsourced, a move that resulted in thousands of jobs lost across various departments. Supporters at the time viewed it as a bold step towards modernisation in local government.

Thomas’s leadership framed these changes as essential for fiscal responsibility amid tightening public budgets.

How Did the Capita Outsourcing Deal Unfold?

The Capita outsourcing deal quickly deviated from its promises. Initial projections gave way to escalating expenses, culminating in a staggering £229m cost overrun. This left Barnet Council grappling with a £62m financial black hole, severely straining resources for essential services. Compounding the issue, £2m was lost to fraud within the outsourced operations, raising serious questions about oversight and accountability.

Service delivery suffered markedly under the arrangement. Residents reported roads in disrepair, symbolising broader infrastructure neglect. Library services, for instance, charged an exorbitant £8 per phone call, drawing widespread criticism for poor value.

Overall, the saga has been estimated to have wasted £1 billion of taxpayer money when factoring in long-term impacts and remediation efforts. These failures contributed directly to the Conservatives losing power in the 2022 local elections.

Why Did the Conservatives Lose Power in Barnet in 2022?

The 2022 Barnet Council elections marked a turning point, with Labour seizing control from the Conservatives led by Dan Thomas. Voter dissatisfaction centred on the tangible fallout from outsourcing: pothole-riddled roads, job losses affecting local families, and skyrocketing service costs. The financial mismanagement, including the £62m black hole, eroded public trust in Thomas’s administration.

Boundary changes played a role, as noted by Thomas himself. He claimed post-election that ward boundary adjustments in Barnet ‘favour Labour more than us,’ suggesting structural disadvantages for his party. Despite these factors, the scale of the defeat underscored deeper issues with governance under his watch.

What Did Dan Thomas Say After the 2022 Election Defeat?

In the immediate aftermath of the 2022 losses, Dan Thomas expressed personal dismay for his colleagues. He stated:

“We’ve lost some great councillors this morning, and I am really disappointed for them personally. They have lost through no fault of their own. I think they are victims of a national set of circumstances – the cost of living crisis and ‘partygate’.”

This comment shifted some blame to broader national events, including the cost of living pressures and the Conservative Party’s ‘partygate’ scandal.

Thomas had publicly backed Boris Johnson ahead of the elections, aligning himself with the then-Prime Minister. Following the results, he deferred on leadership matters, saying it was for his colleagues in Westminster to decide on Johnson’s leadership. He added: “It has been a bad night for the Conservatives in London,” encapsulating the regional setback.

Who Is Dan Thomas and What Is His Current Role?

Dan Thomas has emerged as the new leader of Reform UK in Wales, a position that brings renewed attention to his Barnet Council past. His time leading the north London borough from 2017 to 2022 now serves as a case study in the perils of ambitious outsourcing. Reform UK’s rise in Welsh politics amplifies scrutiny, with critics questioning whether his track record foreshadows similar approaches.

Thomas’s defenders might point to the initial savings claims of £16m annually as evidence of intent, but the overruns and service breakdowns dominate the narrative. His post-election reflections highlighted external pressures, yet local issues like the £8 library calls and disused roads remain potent symbols of failure.

What Lessons Can Be Drawn from Barnet’s Outsourcing Experience?

Barnet’s experience under Dan Thomas illustrates the risks of over-reliance on private contractors like Capita. The promised staff cuts from 3,200 to 322 aimed for efficiency but led to thousands of redundancies and diminished service quality. The £229m overrun and £62m black hole exemplify how projections can unravel, especially with fraud vulnerabilities exposing £2m in losses.

Financial waste estimated at £1 billion underscores the long-term taxpayer burden. Roads in disrepair became a rallying cry for opposition, contributing to the 2022 ousting of the Tories. Thomas’s attribution of defeat to national factors like ‘partygate’ and boundary changes did little to mitigate local anger.

How Does This Impact Reform UK’s Prospects in Wales?

As Reform UK Wales leader, Dan Thomas carries the weight of Barnet’s legacy. His claims of £16m yearly savings contrast sharply with the reality of 70 per cent service outsourcing and job carnage. Welsh voters may weigh whether his experience signals pragmatic reform or cautionary mismanagement.

Thomas’s pre-election support for Boris Johnson and post-defeat deference to Westminster reflect party loyalty amid crisis. Statements like

“They have lost through no fault of their own”

humanise his response but sidestep accountability for local decisions. The £8 per library phone call epitomises resident frustration that could echo in Welsh campaigns.

What Broader Implications Arise for Local Government Outsourcing?

Barnet’s saga questions the viability of mega-contracts like the £500m Capita deal. Initial optimism for better services faded against evidence of disrepair and excess costs. The fraud loss of £2m highlights due diligence gaps in privatised models.

Thomas’s tenure, ending with Tory defeat, serves as a benchmark for outsourcing debates. His ward boundary complaints add to discussions on electoral fairness. Overall, the £1 billion waste estimate warns councils nationwide against similar gambles.

This story draws from multiple accounts of Thomas’s leadership, including direct quotes from his 2022 election night remarks. As a seasoned journalist covering North London politics, the pattern of promise versus delivery in Barnet remains a defining chapter for Dan Thomas’s career shift to Reform UK in Wales.