Dan Harrison, the leader of Leicestershire County Council, resigned on Monday after leaked recordings revealed he suggested targeting women for redundancy. Harrison stepped down after internal criticism and a call for an emergency vote to remove him from his position.
During a private meeting last week, Harrison reportedly stated that 76 council solicitors would be made redundant, criticizing their performance as "incompetent." He then added, "What I want to look at now is the women." The remarks were later released online, prompting significant backlash.
Harrison issued an apology for any "hurt, distress or offence caused" by the comments, which he stated were made in a meeting where he expected privacy and confidentiality. He asserted that the discussions were preliminary and that no instructions or agreements had been made regarding these matters. Harrison also stated that he "unequivocally reject[s] any suggestion that staffing decisions are being taken based on gender" and that his comments were "taken completely out of context."
Despite his apology, all 15 Conservative councillors on the council called for an emergency vote to remove him as leader. Deborah Taylor, leader of the Conservative group, said the concerns raised left them feeling his position was "untenable."
Harrison stated he made the decision to stand down following advice from senior Reform colleagues. He expressed that it had been "the honour of my life to lead the first Reform UK administration at County Hall" since the May 2025 elections.