Reform accused of ‘hijacking Christmas’ in fall out over light switch on event

Reform in Walsall has been accused of ‘hijacking Christmas’ in a row over a Willenhall light switch on event.

Councillor Simran Cheema, ward councillor for Willenhall, had been organising a festive light switch on to take place on November 20.

But she said things came to a head after she posted a promotional ‘Save The Date’ flyer about the event on Facebook because ‘Reform wanted to do its own Christmas switch on’.

The councillor, who is the only Labour member at the authority, had previously organised a similar light switch on event last year.

Councillor Cheema said the 2025 market was funded mainly from a large sponsorship from Assa Abloy, funds from the West Midlands Combined Authority and herself.

Walsall Council provided the installation costs for the lights, which Councillor Cheema described as a good-will gesture following the havoc caused by the cycle lane roadworks.

The Labour councillor said she struggled to find sponsorship for the 2026 event and approached officers at Walsall Council about the government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Cheema said: “I went to the directors and said it would be good to spend a small element of it on Willenhall’s Christmas lights. I told them we’ve had a difficult year and we’d be grateful for the support.

“They said it would need a sign off from the deputy leader. I had a really pleasant conversation with Councillor Barker and she said she would be happy to sign it off.

“Next thing I heard was that Councillor Williams had instructed that the event be cancelled because I’ve organised it and she wants to turn the lights on herself in Willenhall.

“If it’s about turning on the lights, I would have been more than happy for her to turn them on. But she doesn’t want my name associated with anything. I’ve already put out all the promo details, save the dates, spoke to companies and stall holders.

“Now Councillor Williams is saying it’s cancelled because Reform will put their own event on instead.”

Responding to the claims, Councillor Williams said ‘they do not reflect the facts and risk misleading residents about what actually occurred’.

The Reform leader said: “Councillor Cheema did not have any authority to commission Christmas lights or commit the council to expenditure without the necessary approvals being obtained beforehand. No approval had been sought or granted for the council to incur these costs.

“Councillor Cheema chose to proceed without securing the necessary authorisations, which could have left her personally liable for the costs incurred.

“Rather than allow that situation to arise, Councillor Barker spoke with Councillor Cheema and agreed to honour the commitment to purchase the lights despite there being no approved budget to support it.

“The suggestion that support for Christmas in Willenhall has been withdrawn is simply incorrect. In fact, the Christmas Light Switch-On was always planned to take place on 26 November, and preparations for the event have continued throughout.”

Councillor Cheema said Reform should have offered to support the existing preparations for the November 20 event rather than doing its own for ‘political point scoring’.

She said: “Councillor Williams should have reached out and got involved. It’s a lot of organising and it’s not just me, there’s lots of people in the community organising it. They would have been more than welcome to join but they’re going to do their own switch on now.

“They just did not want me to have anything to do with it and have hijacked Christmas and cancelled this event for the community. I didn’t think they would stoop this low. People of Willenhall will see right through it.

“I asked officers if I needed any extra permissions and they said I was more than entitled to organise an event on public land. Now I’ve had to cancel everything and contact community organisations. I just feel sick to my stomach.”

Councillor Williams said Councillor Cheema was asked to help with Reform’s event. She said: “Councillor Cheema was invited to work with us on these arrangements, but unfortunately, we have not received a response.

“At no point was this about preventing festive celebrations from taking place, nor was it about political point scoring. It was about ensuring that proper governance, financial controls, and accountability were followed before public money was committed.

“It is disappointing that a matter of financial governance has been presented as an attempt to ‘cancel Christmas’. Residents deserve honesty about the circumstances. The issue arose because commitments were made before the necessary approvals had been obtained, not because anyone sought to prevent Christmas events from taking place.

“We hope that future discussions about community events can focus on bringing people together and delivering for residents, rather than creating unnecessary political division.”

By Rachel Alexander | Local Democracy Reporting Service