Reform UK suspends four Kent councillors after video leak

Reform UK has suspended four councilors after video of a heated virtual council meeting was leaked.

The councilors sit on Kent County Council (KCC), one of ten councils governed by Reform UK and seen by the party as a testing ground for its governing abilities.

This comes after footage of KCC leader Linden Kemkaran swearing and telling party members to “never mind” about some of their decisions was leaked to The Guardian.

BBC Radio Kent refused to comment when asked whether the suspensions were linked to the video.

“It’s business as usual at Kent County Council,” he said.

A party spokesman said Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barret and Maxine Fothergrill were sentenced to lashings until the investigation was completed.

They said the suspensions were the result of “evidence” that councilors were “bringing the party into disrepute”.

In the clip, Ms Kemkaran was heard raising her voice at councilor Thomas and threatening to silence him during an exchange about local government restructuring.

Councilor Thomas told the meeting: “Obviously the question is… is it the right leader and the right cabinet?”

Miss Kemkaran it has been said before It was stated that those behind the leak were “weak” and “stupid”, that they committed an act of “treason” and that a “comprehensive investigation” was launched.

He could face a vote of no confidence in the coming weeks over the leaked video, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

LDRS has begun seeking the required number of signatures to trigger possible dismissal, said a substitute member who asked to remain anonymous.

Kent County Council’s opposition leader, Councilor Anthony Hook, described Ms Kemkaran’s position as “indefensible” and said she was “unfit to lead”.

“If you think the Conservatives were bad running the KCC, Reform is much worse, messier, more inexperienced and more uncaring,” the Liberal Democrat councilor said.

“Less than a year has passed, but Reform in Kent proves every day that the party is politically and morally unfit to be anywhere near power at any level.”

Reform UK entered County Hall in Kent, the country’s largest local council, in May and scored a landslide victory, winning 57 of 81 seats.

Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barret and Maxine Fothergrill were approached for comment.