Huge KCC Conservative Defeat

The Liberal Democrats have triumphed in Tunbridge Wells as Reform UK took control of Kent County Council.

Cranbrook was held by the Conservatives - but only by 16 votes.

Across Kent, Reform UK won 57 seats, Liberal Democrats 12, Conservatives 5, Greens 5 and Labour 2.

The Conservative's leader, Roger Gough (below), lost his seat in Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley. He described the Tory situation as “apocalyptic” just after midday today and added: “That is the only way I can describe it.”

A senior Tory texted: “This is about as close to wipeout as you’re ever going to see.”

The Conservatives won all six seats within the Tunbridge Wells Borough area in the last county vote in 2021 at the height of Boris Johnson's national popularity.

This time the Liberal Democrats were victorious, having last year taken overall control of the Borough Council and coming top in the General Election vote. 

The Liberal Democrats won all 5 seats around the town, including Tunbridge Wells Rural, where the Conservatives were knocked into third place by Reform UK

The Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, gave this reaction to Zac Daunt-Jones of West Kent Radio.

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Mike Martin said: "I am absolutely delighted...we've elected 5 Lib Dem councillors and they are bubbling with passion and energy and go up to Kent County Council and do their best to fix the finances there".

You can hear here people in Tunbridge Wells giving a mixed reception to news that Reform UK are now in control of Kent County Council.

One concerned resident said: "I am quite shocked about the (Reform UK) majority.  I think most of their ideas are quite controversial.  I'd say it's quite worrying and I feel like it impacts quite a few people - with things like diversity and inclusion".

Another was more positive arguing: "Hopefully Reform will change things. Because under Labour over the last ten months and previously, they don't care about British citizens, nor does Conservative. So hopefully Reform will. It doesn't mean right wing. I'd like to see more housing for English people instead of seeing them on the streets - especially seeing  ex-armed forces on the streets is a bit heartbreaking."

Overall in the Sevenoaks Borough (which includes Swanley), Lib Dems won the town of Sevenoaks, while Reform won 4 seats and there was one surviving Conservative in Sevenoaks West.

On a visit to Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday, Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey spoke to supporters ahead of the party's big gains in the town.

Mark Ellis (pictured below) is one of the Liberal Democrats who was elected to a former Conservative seat, with a triumph in Tunbridge Wells North.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS NORTH (including Southborough)

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%	Outcome
Mark Strafford Ellis	Liberal Democrat	2026	42%	Elected
Christopher Hoare	Reform UK	1071	22%	Not elected
Vivek Gautam	Conservative	614	13%	Not elected
Tom Connolly	Labour	571	12%	Not elected
Maria Gavin	Green Party	329	7%	Not elected
Kit Hawes-Webb	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	87	2%	Not elected
Joe Dore	Independents for Tunbridge Wells	70	1%	Not elected

TUNBRIDGE WELLS WEST

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%	Outcome
John Joseph Moreland	Liberal Democrat	1869	35%	Elected
Richard Long	Conservative	1400	26%	Not elected
Rob Grindley	Reform UK	906	17%	Not elected
Jayne Angharad Sharratt	Labour	591	11%	Not elected
Stephanie Teresa Gandon	Green Party	345	6%	Not elected
Clare Lorraine Escombe	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	160	3%	Not elected
David James Kain	Independents for Tunbridge Wells	47	1%	Not elected

TUNBRIDGE WELLS SOUTH

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%	Outcome
Martin Dale Brice	Liberal Democrat	2001	38%	Elected
John Russell Spence	Reform UK	1044	20%	Not elected
Sedat Zorba	Conservative	1031	19%	Not elected
Jeremy Audsley Clapham	Green Party	525	10%	Not elected
Nick Pope	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	458	9%	Not elected
Kate McAlpine	Labour	257	5%	Not elected

TUNBRIDGE WELLS EAST

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%	Outcome
Colin Michael Sefton	Liberal Democrat	1690	37%	Elected
Andrew George Hobart	Conservative	950	21%	Not elected
Kris Niewolski	Reform UK	922	20%	Not elected
Suzie Wakeman	Independents for Tunbridge Wells	375	8%	Not elected
Alan James Bullion	Labour and Co-operative Party	302	7%	Not elected
Kate Sergeant	Green Party	271	6%	Not elected
Paul Motaz Johnson	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	75	2%	Not elected

TUNBRIDGE WELLS RURAL

Mark Gavin Munday	Liberal Democrat	1767	35%	Elected
Oliver James Kinkade	Reform UK	1500	30%	Not elected
Sarah Ann Hamilton	Conservative	1276	25%	Not elected
Alasdair James Milner Fraser	Green Party	272	5%	Not elected
Anne Priscilla Musker	Labour	141	3%	Not elected
Alison Valda Webster	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	81	2%	Not elected
Libby Richardson	Independents for Tunbridge Wells	41	1%	Not elected

CRANBROOK

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%	Outcome
Claudine Jane Russell	Conservative	1442	29%	Elected
Lucie Gavrilova	Reform UK	1425	28%	Not elected
Ellen Neville	Tunbridge Wells Alliance	1107	22%	Not elected
Vivian Alice Widgery	Liberal Democrat	426	8%	Not elected
Helen Claire Yeo	Green Party	384	8%	Not elected
Gregory James Holder	Labour	187	4%	Not elected
Dan Littlechild	Independents for Tunbridge Wells	66	1%	Not elected