'It's like a cult': Why some councillors quit Reform | Local Government Chronicle (LGC)
lgcplus.com
Former Reform councillors describe a political culture built on conspiracy thinking and distrust of officials — a textbook case of how radicalized in-group dynamics can make governing impossible.
Cult DynamicsEpistemic BubblesIn-Group/Out-Group TheoryConspiracy Mentality
Theory Briefing
- Some ex-Reform councillors describe the party's local culture as cult-like, driven by conspiracy theories absorbed from podcasts and online media.
- New Reform members reportedly arrive convinced that council officers are 'evil' — an us-vs-them frame that blocks practical governance.
- The pattern illustrates how epistemic bubbles and distrust of institutions can fracture even newly elected political groups from within.