I must start with a confession. I used Artificial Intelligence in writing this article. Specifically, I typed into Copilot ‘Who is the Reform Party spokesman on local government?' Back came the answer ‘I couldn't find a specific spokesman for local government in the Reform Party.'

I did not attempt to ask what Reform's local government policies are. I suspect I am not on my own in this. Chief officers in at least 10 English councils will be asking the same. The party's unquestionable success in this year's local elections puts us into Donald Rumsfeld territory – grappling with ‘unknown unknowns'.