"Independent Reformers" Party Likely

One of the five Reform UK councillors expelled from the party at Kent County Council has announced he'll set up a rival grouping.

Ashford member Bill Barrett said he was in the early stages of creating the Independent Reformers at County Hall.

Cllr Barrett, who was shown the door alongside Cllr Robert Ford last Friday afternoon, hopes to have a meeting with others in the coming days to thrash out a plan of action.

An independent grouping would be able to lobby for seats on the authority’s committees, where they would continue to have influence.

He said: “It’s basically for the people that we represent, to give them elected councillors with a democratic mandate and to carry on with the work of representing them in the best way possible.

“It’s very early stages and I don’t want to say too much at this point but, yes, as a group we could have a case to be placed on some of the important committees at KCC.”

Five councilors have so far been thrown out of Reform UK – Cllrs Barrett, Ford, Oliver Bradshaw, Brian Black and Paul Thomas – for allegedly bringing Nigel Farage’s fledgling outfit into disrepute.

The KCC top table has been embroiled in controversy since the Guardian published a leaked video of leader Cllr Linden Kemkaran swearing and shouting during a virtual meeting.

In the video, which was published on October 18, she defended her decision-making over local government reorganisation, telling her members they would have to “f***ing suck it up”.

She was also heard raising her voice and threatening to mute Maidstone member Cllr Thomas.

The KCC leader, in an interview with the BBC yesterday, was defiant in the face of more than a week of headlines over her leadership and calls for her to resign.

She told the BBC: “Why on earth should I consider my position? I’m not the one who’s done anything wrong.”

She said the people who should feel ashamed are the ones who leaked the video “and betrayed the trust of not just me but the whole group”.

It is understood that no one has yet been identified as the culprit despite an investigation into the leak.

Cllr Kemkaran said that “not everybody has the same sense of service and duty and responsibility – that’s a sorry state of affairs”.

She admitted that she can be “direct”, “forthright” and “blunt” in her approach.

The leader added: “Yes, occasionally I use language that could be described as slightly fruity. I make no apology for that.”
Reform UK swept to power on May 1 with 57 of the 81 seats and ending nearly three decades of Conservative dominance at the country’s largest local authority.

But with expulsions, one defection and suspensions, that total has been whittled down to 49.

One back bencher indicated on October 19 they are considering tabling a vote of no confidence about Cllr Kemkaran.

The leader then sent a message to all her councillors last week asking them to pledge their support in writing.

A national newspaper reported at the weekend that 37 had done so, although the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that number now exceeds 40.

Some figures in the opposition parties are wondering if a vote of no confidence is “wise” presently as Cllr Kemkaran would likely win, thus strengthening her hand.

One said: “KCC is in chaos at the minute, all because of Linden’s leadership. It’s become a bit of a joke. You’d think she would go but she shows no sign of it.

“The pressure will ramp up when they have to get the budget through in the coming weeks and months. That will be a real tester.”

Cllr Barrett said: “Linden Kemkaran has lost control of KCC – that’s fairly plain to see. Instead of dealing with the issues, they just let it blow up.”

The Green Party has called for the four expelled Reform UK councillors in Maidstone divisions – Cllrs Black, Bradshaw, Ford and Thomas – to resign their seats and hold by-elections.

Maidstone member Stuart Jeffery said: “KCC’s Reform group is in freefall and Maidstone residents are suffering. With four out of the seven Reform county councillors now expelled, people deserve to have a vote on the party and people who will represent them.

“We are therefore calling on the four expelled county councillors to resign from the council so that by-elections can be held.

“Democracy is important and people in Maidstone did not elect independents to represent them. These four no longer have a mandate.”