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Reform UK is making a diabolical mess out of running one of the UK’s largest county councils, it seems, with nine councillor suspensions and no financial plan for the coming year.
The Guardian tells us:
“Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has suspended another member of its “flagship” county council in Kent… The departure of Isabella Kemp, who had also worked as a data protection officer at Reform’s HQ, means the party has lost nine of the 57 councillors elected during the local elections in May.
“The latest turmoil comes after the Guardian published a recording of an incendiary internal meeting in which the council leader, Linden Kemkaran, told dissenting Reform UK colleagues they had to “f*cking suck it up” if they did not like her decisions.
“Four Reform councillors were suspended shortly after the leak. One of those and another who had been suspended over separate allegations have now formed an “Independent Reformers” group on the council.
“On Thursday the council leadership also faced repeated questions from opposition councillors over whether it would be raising council tax, after Reform promised savings in leaflets to voters in the local elections. A senior member of Reform’s Kent team had let slip last month that rates may have to rise by 5%, the maximum permitted.
“Brian Collins, a member of the Reform cabinet, said no decision had been made on council tax as the local authority was awaiting the outcome of a government funding review.”
What we’re seeing in Kent isn’t just a series of isolated problems – it’s systemic dysfunction.
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Nine councillors leaving in less than six months (more than 15 per cent of the group) is a huge warning sign. It’s not just turnover — it’s instability.
Local government relies on cohesion and experience, and a party losing nearly a sixth of its elected representatives already is a clear signal of dysfunctional leadership.
Voters typically expect continuity in local services; this level of churn is almost unprecedented for a group that called itself “flagship.”
The Guardian’s video leak exposes leadership tone and culture.
Kemkaran’s language (“f*cking suck it up”) is not just unprofessional; it signals an authoritarian, confrontational approach rather than collaborative governance.
In local councils, decisions are often negotiated and require consensus. This is the opposite.
It also damages trust with colleagues and the public — if councillors can’t work together, services suffer.
Committees for adult social care and public health were disrupted, and a school transport appeals committee had to be cancelled.
That directly affects vulnerable people: children needing transport, adults relying on public health services.
This isn’t a minor bureaucratic hiccup; it’s people’s lives being affected by party politics.
Kemkaran’s references to “dropping out” of councillors frame problems as personal weakness rather than leadership failings.
It’s telling that a leader interprets colleagues’ objections as failure rather than legitimate professional concerns.
This reflects a lack of governance skills — managing complex organisations requires negotiation and structured accountability, not combative rhetoric.
Reform UK promised savings in leaflets, yet internal leaks and statements suggest council tax may increase by the maximum allowed.
This signals poor financial planning and a disconnect between political messaging and administrative reality.
Councils have legal obligations to balance budgets; failing to communicate a coherent plan erodes public trust.
And here’s the kicker: if Reform UK struggles to manage a £2.5 billion council with 57 councillors, how can that party credibly claim to run national government with its multi-trillion-pound budget and far greater complexity?
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If this is how badly Reform UK runs a council, who would want a Reform UK government?
Share this post:
Reform UK is making a diabolical mess out of running one of the UK’s largest county councils, it seems, with nine councillor suspensions and no financial plan for the coming year.
The Guardian tells us:
“Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has suspended another member of its “flagship” county council in Kent… The departure of Isabella Kemp, who had also worked as a data protection officer at Reform’s HQ, means the party has lost nine of the 57 councillors elected during the local elections in May.
“The latest turmoil comes after the Guardian published a recording of an incendiary internal meeting in which the council leader, Linden Kemkaran, told dissenting Reform UK colleagues they had to “f*cking suck it up” if they did not like her decisions.
“Four Reform councillors were suspended shortly after the leak. One of those and another who had been suspended over separate allegations have now formed an “Independent Reformers” group on the council.
“On Thursday the council leadership also faced repeated questions from opposition councillors over whether it would be raising council tax, after Reform promised savings in leaflets to voters in the local elections. A senior member of Reform’s Kent team had let slip last month that rates may have to rise by 5%, the maximum permitted.
“Brian Collins, a member of the Reform cabinet, said no decision had been made on council tax as the local authority was awaiting the outcome of a government funding review.”
What we’re seeing in Kent isn’t just a series of isolated problems – it’s systemic dysfunction.
Support Vox Political!
With social media algorithms acting as gatekeepers – allowing users to read only what their owners want them to, sites like Vox Political need the support of our readers like never before.
You can help by making a donation:
https://Ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Nine councillors leaving in less than six months (more than 15 per cent of the group) is a huge warning sign. It’s not just turnover — it’s instability.
Local government relies on cohesion and experience, and a party losing nearly a sixth of its elected representatives already is a clear signal of dysfunctional leadership.
Voters typically expect continuity in local services; this level of churn is almost unprecedented for a group that called itself “flagship.”
The Guardian’s video leak exposes leadership tone and culture.
Kemkaran’s language (“f*cking suck it up”) is not just unprofessional; it signals an authoritarian, confrontational approach rather than collaborative governance.
In local councils, decisions are often negotiated and require consensus. This is the opposite.
It also damages trust with colleagues and the public — if councillors can’t work together, services suffer.
Committees for adult social care and public health were disrupted, and a school transport appeals committee had to be cancelled.
That directly affects vulnerable people: children needing transport, adults relying on public health services.
This isn’t a minor bureaucratic hiccup; it’s people’s lives being affected by party politics.
Kemkaran’s references to “dropping out” of councillors frame problems as personal weakness rather than leadership failings.
It’s telling that a leader interprets colleagues’ objections as failure rather than legitimate professional concerns.
This reflects a lack of governance skills — managing complex organisations requires negotiation and structured accountability, not combative rhetoric.
Reform UK promised savings in leaflets, yet internal leaks and statements suggest council tax may increase by the maximum allowed.
This signals poor financial planning and a disconnect between political messaging and administrative reality.
Councils have legal obligations to balance budgets; failing to communicate a coherent plan erodes public trust.
And here’s the kicker: if Reform UK struggles to manage a £2.5 billion council with 57 councillors, how can that party credibly claim to run national government with its multi-trillion-pound budget and far greater complexity?
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