9 Tories Go Independent

The Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Sevenoaks District Council after a revolt by their own councillors.

Although Conservative Cllr Roddy Hogarth remains leader of Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), his position seems increasingly precarious.

Seven Conservative councillors left the party last Thursday night, with an eighth leaving the next day and a ninth resigning from the local party on Monday.

The nine rebels have formed the West Kent Independents group. They're said to be unhappy with Cllr Hogarth as the Conservative leader.

You can listen here to the key councillors involved:

The Tory revolt in Sevenoaks leaves the Conservatives with 24 members, the Liberal Democrats 14, West Kent Independents 9, Green Party 4, and 3 other independents. The Tories are now outnumbered by four opposition councillors.

Another three Conservatives are thought to be “giving serious thought” to following suit.

Led by Cllr Julia Thornton (pictured above), West Kent Independents (WKI) consists of councillors Margot McArthur, Diana Esler, Alan Layland, Angela Baker, Chris Haslam, Simon Reay, John Grint and Kym Bayley. Cllr Bayley is the latest to join.

It means SDC is now in no overall control but whether the other parties can form an alliance to topple the Tories remains unclear.

Conservative Cllr John Grint, who represents Halstead, Knockholt & Badgers Mount, ruled out a deal with the second biggest party, the Liberal Democrats.

He said: “No, definitely not. We are not Liberal Democrats – we have Conservative instincts. So, we won’t be going into a coalition with the Lib Dems.”

But Cllr Grint said if Cllr Hogarth stepped aside, it  would “set the scene for negotiations between the two groups” about WKI members rejoining the Tories.

Updated Material from Wednesday 21st May:

Last night, opposition groups either abstained or voted for Cllr Hogarth’s cabinet posts and key committee appointments to allow SDC to carry out its statutory functions.

The rebellion was prompted because WKI members are unhappy with some of Cllr Hogarth’s choice of cabinet members.

Rumours abound more Conservatives will leave the ruling group, increasing the possibility of a new alliance taking over later this summer.

Leader of the Lib Dem group, Alan Leaman (pictured below) claimed it is an “abuse of power” to carry on without a working majority. 

He added: “This council is on notice that its days are numbered.

“We have seen an implosion of the Conservative group. A breakaway group means that what is left is a minority administration that cannot provide stable, long-term policy development.”

Asked if the Lib Dems are talking to other council groups about forming an administration, Cllr Leaman added: “We are the biggest opposition group so we will have a central role in whatever emerges.

“We are open to taking to the various groups at the council who have the best interests of the residents at heart.”

Conservative leader Cllr Hogarth (pictured below) said: “The truth is that we are still the largest group and the way council’s constitution is written, the leader stays the leader until the leader’s group decides to nominate someone else.

“I am totally confident in the cabinet I’ve got and I am looking forward to using the talent I have got on there to take forward the agenda we have set, especially in the light of local government reorganisation, the local plan issues and so on.”

Cllr Hogarth said he has the “utmost respect” for the members of WKI as councillors.

Asked if his council’s days are numbered, Cllr Hogarth replied: “I don’t believe so. I have a great respect for Cllr Leaman – he has proven to be a very good leader of the Liberal Democrats.

“But as a permanent opposition group, they will never be the leading group on this council. You have to take his comments as merely comments.”

Asked about further possible defections from the Conservatives, WKI leader Cllr Julia Thornton said: “Some people have expressed an interest to talk to us – nobody else has made firm decisions at this stage.”

Listen to more from Cllr Julia Thornton here:

WKI voted for the committee appointments but abstained from a vote on the new cabinet proposed by Cllr Hogarth.

A statement from WKI said: “(We) are pleased that last night’s emergency SDC meeting resulted in proportional committee appointments for the newly formed group, and the re commencement of council business.

“We appreciate the hard work of all the officers since Thursday to enable this to happen so swiftly and efficiently, and the confidence shown in our group who are all committed to working constructively for the benefit of our residents.”

“WKI looks forward to ongoing, respectful dialogue with all sides at Council as we seek to move forward in a positive and cooperative way.”

More background from an earlier article published on Friday 16th May:

Cllr Thornton said the newly-created West Kent Independents were “feeling buoyant” and “free from the shackles” of the party system.

She added: “We’re no longer tied to a political party and can speak and act freely on behalf of our residents and not be instructed to vote one way or the other which we may not feel is correct.”

Cllr Thornton said that with local government reorganisation “on the horizon” it is important to deliver for Sevenoaks residents.

It is more bad news for the Conservatives in Kent after being trounced at the KCC elections on May 1. The Tories, who secured more than 60 of the 81 seats in 2021, were reduced to just five after a Reform UK landslide.

Lib Dem SDC member and deputy opposition group leader at KCC Richard Streatfeild (pictured below) said: “This is terrible news for the Conservatives. The pressure within the Tories has been mounting for some time and pressure either bonds or shatters – and they are shattered.”

Cllr Streatfeild added: “The numbers speak for themselves. The numbers say there is no overall control at SDC and it is up to the various groups to determine what is best for the residents of the district.”

Listen to more from Cllr Julia Thornton here: