Things have taken a fiery turn in Hull and East Yorkshire, where Olympic boxing gold medalist–turned–Reform UK mayor Luke Campbell is locked in a bitter dispute with his own staff.
Just a few months into his political role, Campbell’s efforts to push his agenda have erupted into an all-out standoff with senior council officials—complete with resignations, accusations, and office politics that feel more like a brawl than bureaucracy.
A Champion’s Agenda Meets Civil Service Resistance
Elected in May as the first-ever mayor of the Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority, Campbell has been vocal about wanting swift action and bold reforms.
But according to him, his plans have been met with resistance by staff members who, he claims, are more interested in collecting paychecks than helping deliver results.
He reportedly accused several civil servants—some of whom were working remotely—of deliberately blocking his policies, saying they “get paid a fortune and do as little as possible.”
Five Resignations Demanded in Explosive Office Showdown
Tensions boiled over last week when Campbell allegedly called for the resignation of five senior officials at the authority.
According to insiders, three of those staff members have since gone on gardening leave and have confirmed their departures.
The status of the remaining two is still unclear.
Sources told The Telegraph that some of the friction stemmed from Campbell’s perceived “one-man band” approach to leadership, which clashed with the more traditional and procedural pace of local government.
Train Tickets, Expenses, and Red Tape Drama
The drama actually started almost immediately after Campbell took office.
One early flashpoint came after reports surfaced that he tried to claim first-class train travel on expenses—something prohibited under government rules.
Reform UK denied the accusation, but the issue prompted a review from an independent panel, which confirmed he was only allowed to book standard class travel.
That early hiccup may have set the tone for what became an increasingly tense relationship between Campbell and the existing council staff.
Blocked Appointments Fueled More Frustration
Another major point of contention involved Campbell’s attempt to bring two of his campaign aides—Jack Anderton, a digital strategist, and Robin Hunter-Clarke, a former UKIP official—into official advisory roles within the mayor’s office.
However, under local government rules, political campaigners and party-affiliated figures are barred from taking “politically restricted” positions.
That decision frustrated Campbell so much that he’s now trying to create entirely new positions just to bring them in through a different route.
The Office Move That Lit the Fuse
The final blow in this ongoing row reportedly came last month when Campbell made the decision to move the mayoral team into a new office building at 2 Humber Quays, a modern space by the water.
He claimed to have secured a discount from the landlord, but council officials pushed back—saying he didn’t follow proper procedures or complete the necessary paperwork.
They instead pushed for the team to relocate to a cheaper, former council-owned building.
Those close to Campbell said this pushback felt like yet another example of staff stonewalling his efforts.
Campbell Defends His Actions and Criticizes ‘Outsiders’
Speaking to The Telegraph, Campbell made it clear who he believes is at fault: civil servants brought in from outside the region.
“They don’t know the area and they didn’t put in any effort,” he said, insisting they were actively standing in the way of the changes he was elected to deliver.
“The rest of the team I’ve got a fantastic relationship with.
It’s only these civil servants that are coming in from all over the country that think they can run the show,” he added.
Reform UK Stands Firm Behind Its Mayor
Reform UK has thrown its full support behind Campbell.
A party spokesperson told The Mail: “We back Luke 100 per cent.
He’s rightly taking the fight to the blob in Hull and East Yorkshire.
For too many years, we saw the Tories bend the knee to civil servants—Reform intend to be different and deliver on our promises.”
Campbell echoed that message, saying the staff in question were on interim contracts and that his focus now is building a fresh team of people who are truly “committed to the region and delivering the agenda I was elected on.”