Reform Suspends Councillors Amid Turmoil in Kent County Council
Reform UK has suspended four councillors today, further complicating the situation at Kent County Council. The decision follows allegations that Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barrett, and Maxine Fothergill leaked video footage of council leader Linden Kemkaran criticizing her colleagues, reports BritPanorama.
The suspended councillors were stripped of their party whip amid accusations of bringing the party into disrepute. The footage, sent to The Guardian, showed Kemkaran bluntly telling councillors to “f***ing suck it up” if they disagreed with her decision-making during an online session.
Kent County Council, which manages an annual budget exceeding £2.5 billion, has been shaken by internal conflicts surrounding tax and spending policies. In the leaked video, Kemkaran described the council as a “shop window” for Reform’s governance capabilities, asserting, “I am not a dictator or an autocrat. I like feedback, I like to discuss. I like to hear what everybody thinks.”
However, she warned that significant decisions would occasionally provoke dissent: “But I am afraid you are just going to have to f*** suck it up.” When councillor Paul Thomas questioned her leadership suitability, Kemkaran muted him, further escalating tensions within the council.
A Reform spokesperson confirmed the suspensions, stating that they were pending an investigation. The party, led by Nigel Farage, gained control of Kent County Council in May, securing 57 out of 81 council seats after a decisive electoral victory.
In response to the chaos unfolding within Reform, Tory MP Louie French criticized the party’s governance, stating, “Reform promised Kent residents the world in May. Six months later they are in complete chaos, with residents facing the prospect of even higher bills. A serious warning to the rest of the UK of what Reform in power looks like.”
