Reform UK’s Olympic boxing champion mayor has gone to war with staff over claims they are ‘blocking’ his agenda.
Luke Campbell, who won gold for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, is embroiled in a vicious row at Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority.
The 37-year-old pugilist-turned-politician reportedly demanded five staff at the council to resign last week over the internal stand-off.
Mr. Campbell, who was elected in the region’s first mayoral contest in May, alleges that employees have intentionally sabotaged his efforts to implement his policies.
He has accused civil servants – who were reportedly working from home – of trying to ‘get paid a fortune and do as little as possible’.
However, his statements have ignited a harsh exchange, with Mr. Campbell being accused of attempting to charge first-class train tickets to expenses, relocating his office without adhering to council protocols, and fostering a ‘toxic working environment’.
The mayor, recognized as a prominent figure within Nigel Farage’s party, is the most recent Reform politician to encounter challenges following the party’s significant election success, which resulted in control of 12 council regions and two mayoral positions.
Former Olympian Mr. Campbell, who has previously been photographed in a boxing ring with Mr. Farage, claims that local officials have hindered his initiatives over the last three months.
Reform UK mayor Luke Campbell is involved in a bitter dispute at the Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority (he is shown on the left, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the right).
Mr Campbell, the mayor of the Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority, with his wife, Lynsey Kraanen
One source informed the Daily Telegraph that there have been conflicts between the mayor and staff over his ‘solo’ political style, which has created tension within his council headquarters.
According to the paper, the simmering row reached a head on Wednesday when the mayor allegedly demanded the resignation of five senior officials.
Three of them have reportedly been put on gardening leave after announcing they would be quitting.
It’s unclear whether the two others reportedly told to leave have resigned.
Mr Campbell is believed to have butted heads with officials shortly after taking office, following an allegation he tried to claim first-class train tickets on expenses.
The claim – denied by Reform UK – would have been in breach of government rules.
However, the row led to a review by an independent remuneration panel, which later clarified in a recommendation that he could only claim for standard class travel.
Things escalated further when Mr Campbell took ‘huge issue’ after he was told his ambition to hire Reform digital strategist Jack Anderton, 23, and ex-UKIP official Robin Hunter-Clarke, to serve as political advisers had been barred.
Olympic champion Mr Campbell is seen celebrating after winning a gold medal at the 2012 games in London
The pair assisted him in his campaign to become mayor. However, under local government rules, campaigners and employees from political parties are not allowed to serve in such ‘politically restricted’ roles.
Bantamweight boxing ace Mr Campbell – who was born locally in Hull – was reportedly so frustrated at the decision, that he is now seeking to create two entirely new roles within the authority in a bid to bring the men into his team.
The final straw that caused the row to go nuclear is believed to have came last month, when Mr Campbell decided to find a new office building to replace the temporary arrangement used by the mayoral authority since it was established.
He opted to shift his team to a modern block at 2 Humber Quays on the banks of the Humber after reportedly telling council officials he had negotiated a ‘discount’ with the building’s owner.
However, staff railed against the move and claimed he had failed to follow council guidance and complete the necessary paper work.
They also demanded the mayoral team should move into a cheaper former council building instead.
However, those close to the mayor claimed he was enraged that his plan had been snared in bureaucratic red tape and staff who appeared to be firmly against him.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Campbell claimed he ‘didn’t feel like they were doing a good enough job’, as he took aim at some of his senior civil servants.
‘They don’t know the region and didn’t put any effort in, thus blocking my agenda. The rest of the team I’ve got a fantastic relationship with,’ he told the paper.
‘It’s only these civil servants that are coming in from all over the country that think they can run the show, get paid a fortune and do as little as possible that I have an issue with.’
Daily Mail has approached the mayor’s office for further comment.
