REFORM POLL OF 1,000 PEOPLE TURNS OUT TO BE 562 PEOPLE ANSWERING A DIFFERENT QUESTION
Essex Reform deputy leader Russell Quirk defended £150,000 of private security patrols with a poll he said had 1,000 respondents. Byline Times reports it had 562, unweighted, asked about police rather than security guards, was run through his own PR firm, and started three days before the visit that supposedly inspired it – foresight Mystic Meg would envy. Asked for detail, he told councillors to 'take our word for it'; the pollster, in fairness, says it doesn't believe he set out to mislead.
THE BORING BIT: WHAT THE REAL REPORT SAYS
Essex Reform deputy leader Russell Quirk cited a poll of 1,000; it had 562 unweighted respondents, asked about police not security guards, was run via his own PR firm, and fieldwork began three days before the visit said to prompt it. He told the committee 'take our word for it'. The pollster said it does not believe he set out to mislead.
Our short summary of the original – read the full report for context. Everything above it is satire.
REAL STORY Byline Times · 29 Oct 2026: “Local Reform Deputy Accused of Misleading Councillors Over Poll Used to Defend £150,000 Security Patrols Near Asylum Site”
Gaffe-o-Meter: Russell Quirk · Outfit: Reform UK