The leader of Reform UK-run Kent County Council has described the suspensions and expulsions of councillors from her party as “a sorry state of affairs”.
Linden Kemkaran was speaking after five of her colleagues were expelled for bringing the party into disrepute.
It followed a leaked recording of a video meeting in which Kemkaran was seen shouting and swearing at other Reform councillors.
Expulsions ‘a sorry state of affairs’, Reform KCC leader, BBC
Kent shows Reform does not know how to govern
The problems that the council is facing suggests Nigel Farage’s party is far from ready to exercise power
[…]
For Reform, east of Edenbridge became an Eden; during a fractious internal party meeting during which council members attempted to discuss the budget, leaked by councillors, leader of the council Linden Kemkaran said: “We are a shop window. People are judging us every single minute of every single day – Nigel knows that, he is super aware that we are the flagship council.”
But like Eden, not everyone is capable of indefinitely living in paradise. Four members were initially suspended under suspicion of leaking the video, and five have now been removed from the party for bringing it into “disrepute” and displaying a “lack of integrity”.
Kent shows Reform does not know how to govern, telegraph.co.uk
Reform UK expels two Kent councillors accused of ‘undermining’ its interests
Robert Ford, subject of an ‘unofficial complaint’, and Bill Barrett, suspended after leaked meeting, removed via email
Two suspended Reform UK councillors from Kent have been expelled from the party over a misconduct allegation and after the Guardian published a leaked video which revealed tensions among its county council ranks.
Robert Ford and Bill Barrett were removed from the party via an email from Reform HQ on Monday, which said they had “undermined” the interests of the party and brought it into “disrepute”.
Ford and Barrett sat on Kent county council alongside Oliver Bradshaw, Paul Thomas and Maxine Fothergill, who were also suspended last week. The Guardian understands Thomas, Bradshaw and Fothergill remain suspended pending investigation.
Reform UK expels two Kent councillors accused of ‘undermining’ its interests, theguardian.com
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party
Five Reform UK county councillors have been expelled from the party for bringing it into “disrepute” and displaying a “lack of integrity”.
Kent councillors Bill Barrett and Robert Ford, who criticised the party’s “toxic” and “incompetent” leadership, were kicked out by email from Reform HQ, which said they had undermined the interests of the party.
Councillors Oliver Bradshaw, Brian Black, and Paul Thomas were also expelled for showing “a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour which the party will not tolerate”, Reform UK said.
It comes after a damaging video leak showing the Reform UK leader of Kent County Council (KCC) Linden Kemkaran swearing and shouting during a council meeting.
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party. BBC
Reform UK expels three more Kent county councillors for ‘dishonest and deceptive’ behaviour
Reform UK has expelled another three county councillors from the party this afternoon alleging “a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour”.
The dismissals of Cllrs Brian Black, Paul Thomas and Oliver Bradshaw brings to five the number of expulsions from the Kent County Council group in the past four days.
Reform UK expels three more Kent county councillors for ‘dishonest and deceptive’ behaviour, Kent Online
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May? (36)
Here is a list of the councillors which Reform has shed from the May 2025 local elections. The latest updates are the addition of three more defections in Cornwall, reinforcing Reform’s loss of largest party status on the council, plus also another three expulsions in Kent. Plus bonus news from Grantham…
How many councillors has Reform UK lost since May?, Mark Pack
Reform UK suspends four Kent councillors after leaked video
Party accuses council members of bringing Reform ‘into disrepute’ as film of private meeting shows fractious dispute
Reform UK has suspended four of its Kent councillors after a video was leaked of the council’s leader telling her colleagues to “suck it up”.
Reform UK suspends four Kent councillors after leaked video, ft.com
Reform’s first crack at power is already in crisis
The party’s performance in Kent shows it is nowhere near ready for government
[…]
Antony Hook, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Kent, says Reform was convinced they could make large savings from cutting the county’s budget on asylum seekers.
“They were really fixated on it. Every question they’d ask would be about the cost of asylum. We kept explaining that KCC doesn’t have that large a role in that and how it’s mainly a Home Office expense.
“We tried to explain that the big problem is adult social care, but they would just say: ‘What about asylum?’
“This is where reality has now collided with ideology. They said they’d take their chainsaw to a forest of waste. But the chainsaw seems to have been made out of sponge, and rather than a forest they’ve found an open field where there’s nothing to use it on.”
Reform’s first crack at power is already in crisis, The Telegraph
Poll predicts East Hampshire could turn Lib Dem as Reform UK surge across county
East Hampshire could switch from Conservative to Liberal Democrat if an election were held today, according to a new YouGov poll.
The survey also predicts that nine Hampshire constituencies would be won by Reform UK.
The second YouGov poll of 13,000 voters since the last general election projects a Reform UK government winning 311 seats, just 15 short of a majority.
Poll predicts East Hampshire could turn Lib Dem as Reform UK surge across county, farnhamherald.com
Richard Tice has 15-year record of supporting ‘net stupid zero’ initiatives
Firms led by deputy Reform UK leader since 2011 have shown commitment to saving energy and cutting CO2 emissions
He never seems to tire of deriding “net stupid zero”, but Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, has a 15-year business record of support for sustainability and green energy initiatives.
The Reform party has made opposition to green energy and net zero part of its policy platform. Its founder, Nigel Farage, has called net zero policies a “lunacy”; the party has called to lift the ban on fracking for fossil gas; and one of the first Reform-led councils, Kent, rescinded last month its declaration of a climate emergency.
Richard Tice has 15-year record of supporting ‘net stupid zero’ initiatives, Damien Gayle Environment correspondent, The Guardian, Fri 10 Oct 2025
Doncaster Council: Reform UK secures unplanned full council meeting to re-appoint committee chairs
Reform UK have secured an extraordinary meeting of the City of Doncaster Council in attempts to regain control of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC).
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the meeting, scheduled for October 23, 2025, will see the party nominate new chairs and vice-chairs of various council committees.
A group spokesperson declined to comment on their exact plans for the meeting, including on who they would be nominating to chair key committees.
Doncaster Council: Reform UK secures unplanned full council meeting to re-appoint committee chairs, Doncaster Free Press
Do Britons think Reform UK are racist? (mostly, yes)
Labour are attempting to take the fight to Reform UK, with Keir Starmer describing the rival party’s proposal to scrap indefinite leave to remain as “racist”, while home secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded Nigel Farage of “worse than racist” dog-whistle politics.
A new YouGov survey conducted for ITV Peston finds that more than four in ten Britons consider the Reform UK party (47%), policies (46%) and voters (43%) to be “generally racist”. This compares to 35-36% in each case who disagree, believing them to generally not be racist.
Do Britons think Reform UK are racist?, YouGov
Reform councillor and Tommy Robinson allies back ‘completely untrue’ RE claims
A Reform UK councillor chaired a meeting at which a Welsh far-right hate group spread ‘untrue’ claims about religious education, a Swansea primary school has claimed.
Reform councillor Francesca O’Brien chaired the meeting alongside members of Voice of Wales – a group designated as a hate organisation by Hope Not Hate, with links to the former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson. The meeting centred on entirely unsubstantiated allegations that pupils at Sea View Community Primary School had been forced to pray on Muslim mats and recite Islamic prayers. The school has said the accusations are ‘untrue’.
Reform councillor and Tommy Robinson allies back ‘completely untrue’ RE claims, humanists.uk
Reform UK likely to raise council tax in Kent despite promise to cut costs
Kent becomes latest local authority controlled by Nigel Farage’s party to signal intention to raise council tax
A Reform UK-run council where the party sought to pilot drastic cost-cutting plans is going to have to raise council tax, a cabinet member has admitted.
Services at Kent county council were already “down to the bare bones”, said Reform’s cabinet member for adult social care, Diane Morton. It makes Kent the latest local authority controlled by Nigel Farage’s party to signal its intention to raise council tax.
Reform UK likely to raise council tax in Kent despite promise to cut costs, The Guardian
Reform UK councillor denies election crime
Andy Osborn, 74, who is a member of Cambridgeshire County Council, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with making or publishing a false statement before or during an election in relation to the candidate’s personal character or conduct, under the Representation of the People Act 1983.
Reform UK councillor denies election crime, BBC
- Note: Andy Osborn recently made headlines for another reason
Councillor to be investigated over ‘evil’ remark
A councillor who was heard to describe some children in care as “downright evil” is being investigated for an alleged breach of the members’ code of conduct.
Cambridgeshire County Council has confirmed an investigation into the allegation against Reform UK member Andy Osborn is taking place after a complaint was lodged.
Councillor to be investigated over ‘evil’ remark, BBC
Countdown: The steady shedding of Reform councillors and officials continues…
Drunken displays, racist rants and dodgy deals are just some of the reasons that Reform councillors and officials are dropping like flies…
While Reform UK can celebrate a steady drumbeat of defections and by-elections boosting their number of councillors, they’re finding it somewhat hard to keep hold of the ones they’ve already got. The party managed to shed a remarkable eight councillors in September alone, and have lost 24 since May, for a variety of embarrassing reasons.
To make matters worse, even Reform HQ staff are not safe from the perpetual churn. Read on for a breakdown of those suspended, expelled and otherwise exiled from the Reform Party movement over the past few months…
Countdown: The steady shedding of Reform councillors and officials continues…, Hope not Hate
Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid
Leaders say proposals fly in face of pre-election pledges to identify efficiencies and savings from Musk-style DOGE unit
Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts.
Leaders say the proposals fly in the face of Reform’s pre-election pledges to identify efficiencies and savings through a pilot of its own Elon Musk-style DOGE unit.
The party also admitted this week it’s likely to hike council tax charges for its residents.
Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid, Schools Week
Reform leader admitted taking bribes
Nathan Gill, who led Reform UK in Wales in 2021, admitted taking bribes to make statements in favour of Vladimir Putin’s Russia while he was a Member of the European Parliament.
Nigel Farage says Nathan Gill was ‘bad apple’ over Russian bribes, The National
Councillor quits Reform UK over divergent views
Reform UK’s deputy group leader on Cornwall Council has resigned from the party citing a difference in views.
Rowland O’Connor was one of 28 Reform councillors who won a seat during the local elections in May.
The councillor for St Columb Major, St Mawgan and St Wenn said it had become clear his priorities had “increasingly diverged” from the party’s and he had decided to sit as an independent.
Councillor quits Reform UK over divergent views, BBC
Reform UK removes posts after Labour legal threat
Reform UK has deleted social media posts after receiving a legal letter from the Labour Party.
Addressed to Llŷr Powell, Reform UK’s by-election candidate, the letter accused Reform of using copyrighted images in its material for the Caerphilly by-election.
On 7 October, Labour gave the party 24 hours to remove an image featuring the first minister and candidate Richard Tunnicliffe, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal proceedings.
Reform UK removes posts after Labour legal threat, BBC
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
Gill admits to eight counts of bribery relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament.
Nathan Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, admitted eight counts of bribery on dates between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges, The Guardian
Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP
A Reform UK county councillor in Kent has defected to UKIP, it has been announced.
Amelia Randall, who serves the Birchington & Rural division in Thanet, has left the party four months after being elected.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “We remain committed to our mission of delivering for our residents and ensuring Nigel Farage becomes Britain’s next Prime Minister.”
Opposition leader at Kent County Council, Antony Hook, has called for Randall to resign and a by-election to be called.
He said: “She should resign so that Birchington residents can make a fresh choice about who they want to represent them.”
Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP, BBC
Stamp Duty ‘Hypocrite’, says Mirror
Luxury house Farage boasted of buying was purchased by his partner…slashing the tax paid by £44,000 STAMP DUTY ‘HYPOCRITE’
The Mirror (UK Newspaper) headline
Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government
Reform-run West Northamptonshire is removing all references to ‘climate change’ and ‘net zero’ from official documents, yet continuing to take government green grants
The Reform UK-run council in West Northamptonshire is systematically removing all references to climate change and net zero from its strategies, website and documents, Byline Times can reveal – while simultaneously continuing to take Government cash for green projects.
The move follows the council scrapping its net zero targets, in a controversial decision last Wednesday that sparked local protests. The news was announced in an article in The Telegraph – around two hours before the actual decision had been voted on.
Reform Council Bans All Mentions of Climate Change While Quietly Taking Green Funds From Government, bylinetimes.com
Reform UK votes for cabinet-led review of flags that can be flown at County Hall
A row has broken out over Reform UK’s plans to limit the type of flags flown over Lancashire County Council’s headquarters.
The authority’s ruling group voted to launch a cabinet-led review of the symbols that can be raised at County Hall in Preston.
However, the party has already nailed its preferences to the mast, claiming that the proposed changes are designed to unify all Lancastrians under the banners of Lancashire and the UK – regardless of other aspects of their identity.
But opposition groups noted that the Pride flag, representing the LGBT community, would be the principal casualty of the rethink – and accused Reform of engaging in a culture war.
Reform UK votes for cabinet-led review of flags that can be flown at County Hall, blogpreston.co.uk
Reform UK councillor expelled from party
A Reform UK councillor who was elected to Devon County Council in May has been expelled from the party.
Reform UK said it had expelled Ed Hill for publishing a letter about free school meals in the name of all Reform Devon councillors without their consent.
Reform UK councillor expelled from party, BBC
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election
The Conservatives have won back Eccleshall & Gnosall on Staffordshire County Council
Reform UK has lost one of the Staffordshire County Council seats it won on May 1 – just 78 days after that landslide victory. Reform UK swept to power in May after winning 49 of the 62 Staffordshire County Council divisions.
But a by-election was triggered just days later after offensive social media posts from Councillor Wayne Titley led to his resignation. Now the Conservatives have regained Eccleshall & Gnosall following this morning’s election result.
Reform UK in THIRD place as Nigel Farage’s party loses Staffordshire by-election, stokesentinel.co.uk
Reform MP’s questionable claims about street problems anger residents
Angry residents have criticised their MP after she claimed their street had been blighted by violence and anti-social behaviour caused by illegal immigration.
Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire, said in a video posted on Facebook she had received “disturbing reports” from residents and businesses about incidents happening in Greenway Road, Runcorn.
Residents said this portrayal of their street was “untrue” while Cheshire Constabulary said it had received no such reports.
MP’s claims about street problems anger residents, BBC
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over appalling living conditions of her rental flat
An Isle of Wight housing committee councillor who was previously hit with warning notices over the state of a flat she rented out came under fire this week.
At Wednesday evening’s full council meeting, Reform UK’s new Central Rural representative Caroline Gladwin was the subject of a member question directed at Councillor Clare Mosdell, Conservative chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee.
Reform UK’s Caroline Gladwin questioned over ‘appalling living conditions’ of her rental flat, On The Wight
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war
Reform UK is mounting an Elon Musk-inspired bid to slash state “waste.” The fireworks have already begun.
MAIDSTONE, England — Half an hour into a Kent County Council meeting, council leader Linden Kemkaran has already taken aim at trans women in a “wig and a skirt” and migrants “invading” Britain.
This is the Garden of England — home to farmers, commuters, vineyards, seaside poverty, rich London escapees, and the beaches where tens of thousands of migrants have landed in inflatable dinghies — and it now belongs to Reform UK.
Nigel Farage’s DOGE firebrands are already at war, politico.eu
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business…
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum
Holding office in local government is a poisoned chalice for a party that bases its electoral appeal around issues where it has no power whatsoever, argues NICK WRIGHT
For two months after Reform UK took over the council the council failed to conduct business, subcommittees were cancelled, Reform UK councillors failed to sign their declaration of acceptance of office, others failed to complete their register of interests and the planning committee’s work was on hold after half the Reform UK members failed to turn up for their statutory training that qualifies them to take planning decisions.
Reform UK’s Kent conundrum, morningstaronline.co.uk
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council
The interim leader of Warwickshire County Council has defended plans to bring in political assistants costing up to £190,000 per year in the face of outrage from other parties.
Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) confirmed he had instigated the proposals that will be considered by all councillors next week.
They would see the biggest three parties at Shire Hall – Reform, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives – have a dedicated council officer to “undertake research and provide administrative support to members of political groups in the discharge of any of their (council) functions”, although the Lib Dems have spoken out to object to the idea.
National legislation allows councils to employ up to three people, one for each of the council’s three biggest groups provided they have at least 10 per cent of the seats available.
Reform UK leader defends £190k-per-year plan to bring in political assistants at Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire World
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration
It was reported on 16 July that County Durham council, presently dominated by Reform UK, is now thought to have become the first council in the country, to revoke its climate declaration. In its place the council has declared a care emergency.
Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader of Durham County Council and a former presenter on GB News was reported as saying: “We are done with expensive virtue signalling tripe and care about our residents,” and was also noted as saying that the ongoing social care crisis is the “most urgent threat to the well-being of our children and the financial stability of our county”
It was also said that the previous council had approved an environment pledge aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2045 running alongside the current Climate Emergency Response Plan.
Another Reform councillor, Andrew Husband seemed to hint that global warming would be a good thing as: “During the Roman-occupied era not far away from County Durham, around 45AD, there is evidence of Roman vineyards along Hadrian’s Wall. This is because the Roman period in Britain is known for having a relatively warm climate which would have been conducive to growing grapes. Mind, how the climate has changed”
Reform led County Durham Council scraps climate declaration, northeastbylines.co.uk
‘No Such Thing as a Free Lunch’: Opposition Outcry over Reform’s Secretive DOGE Unit
Councillors have raised the alarm over West Northamptonshire’s controversial deal with Reform’s Musk-inspired DOGE team.
Councillors in West Northamptonshire last night slammed Reform UK’s plan to access council data as part of a drive that it claims is intended to reduce local “fraud and waste”.
In a key test of Reform’s battle to access data from councils, West Northamptonshire became the first to welcome unnamed and unpaid “experts” from the party’s ‘DOGE’ unit into the council to find ways to cut its budget.
The council says it will reserve the right to stop DOGE from accessing restricted personal information, and will vet the members of Reform’s unit to ensure they have relevant qualifications. However, opposition councillors protested against the proposal in local cabinet meeting last night.
‘No Such Thing as a Free Lunch’: Opposition Outcry over Reform’s Secretive DOGE Unit, desmog.com
Reform UK council leaders divert so-called ‘Net Stupid Zero’ cash to tackle flooding
One opposition councillor claimed decisions were being based on ‘allusions to the Roman Empire’
Millions of pounds are to be reallocated from council efforts to fight climate change. Leicestershire County Council’s new Reform UK leaders voted this week to divert £2 million from carbon reduction initiatives into efforts to mitigate flooding and other severe weather events.
Reform UK council leaders divert so-called ‘Net Stupid Zero’ cash to tackle flooding, leicestermercury.co.uk
Reform UK expels Devon councillor who ‘crossed the line’
Reform UK has expelled one of its own Devon councillors from the party over a row about a letter being sent without consent.
Devon County councillor Ed Hill, (Pinhoe & Mincinglake), has been kicked out over claims by the party that he distributed a letter on free school meals to MPs and the media purportedly signed by 17 Reform councillors.
Reform UK expels Devon councillor who ‘crossed the line’, Devon Live
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it
Reform UK has received millions of pounds in donations from climate deniers and fossil fuel sources, so it is not a surprise that Nigel Farage wants to make net zero the “next Brexit”.
The party is especially opposed to green energy projects in Lincolnshire, where senior figures have spoken out against solar panel farms — large installations of renewable electricity in the countryside.
Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy chair and the MP for Boston and Skegness, promised that his Lincolnshire colleagues would oppose solar farms “every step of the way”. “Reform control the Mayoralty and County Council in Lincolnshire with myself as local MP,” he wrote on X. “If you are thinking of investing in solar farms, battery storage systems, or trying to build pylons, think again.”
Which makes it all a bit embarrassing that on Monday, two of Reform’s top councillors missed an important date to discuss a new solar panel project.
Reform UK slam solar energy – then miss the meeting to stop it, Hope Not Hate
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months
Move comes hours after Zia Yusuf, the party’s efficiency tsar, had criticised former home secretary
Suella Braverman’s husband has quit Reform UK six months after joining.
Rael Braverman issued a short statement on X, saying: “I have left Reform effective immediately.”
It came hours after Zia Yusuf, the Reform efficiency tsar, had criticised Mrs Braverman, the former home secretary, on the same platform.
Suella Braverman’s husband quits Reform after six months, telegraph.co.uk
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty
Analysis of polling data shows party competes directly with Labour in poorer heartlands
Support for Reform UK has surged in areas with higher rates of child poverty, underlining the rightwing populist party’s potential to connect with disillusioned voters in Labour’s heartlands.
A Financial Times analysis of election projections by pollster More in Common shows the vast majority of constituencies where Reform is expected to perform well have higher than average child poverty rates.
Reform UK gains support in areas with high child poverty, Financial Times
Why Reform Has Split in Three
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals
Inviting failed candidates to try again under lax rules suggests that they are either struggling to recruit candidates, or something more sinister.
Reform UK has told its members in Kent it will relax vetting rules, and is ‘strongly’ encouraging prospective candidates who previously failed vetting to reapply.
[…]
The move to water down the party’s vetting process comes despite ongoing candidate scandals. Daniel Taylor, a Reform councillor in Thanet, was recently charged with threatening to kill his wife. Reform withdrew the whip after he was charged.
Reform UK loosens vetting rules despite repeated candidate scandals, leftfootforward.org