The Fire Brigades Union has issued a stark warning about public safety in Kent after a series of suspensions within Reform UK's council leadership left the county's fire authority in what they describe as complete disarray.
Leadership Vacuum in Emergency Services
Reform UK, which took control of Kent County Council in May with an impressive 57 of the 81 seats, now faces a crisis of governance. The party has seen its numbers reduced to just 48 councillors following multiple suspensions and removals from the group.
The situation has become particularly critical within the Kent and Medway Fire Authority, where both the chair and vice-chair have been removed from their positions. Former chairman Brian Black was kicked out of Reform UK along with councillors Robert Ford, Paul Thomas and Oliver Bradshaw. The authority's vice-chair, Isabella Kemp, was suspended last week ahead of a full council meeting.
Fire Service Governance Breakdown
Steve Wright, the Fire Brigades Union general secretary, didn't mince words when describing the situation. "This situation is a shambles and a threat to public safety," he stated. "Without sound governance, fire and rescue services will not be able to do their jobs properly."
The practical implications are serious. Kent's Fire and Rescue chief executive cannot authorise significant spending without approval from the Fire Authority, which currently lacks key members to form quorum and make decisions.
Mr Wright emphasised that "the public has a right to expect that its emergency services are accountable to them and their elected representatives. At the moment, the structures for that have broken down in Kent." He called directly on the KCC administration to "get a grip" on the deteriorating situation.
Political Leadership Under Fire
The FBU has attempted to engage with council leader Linden Kemkaran, who has described KCC as a "shop window" for what Reform UK could achieve nationally. However, union representatives report that their requests for meetings have gone unanswered.
Joe Weir, an FBU executive council member for the South East, expressed growing frustration. "Kent firefighters work round the clock to keep the public safe. The least they deserve is political leadership that functions," he said.
Weir didn't hold back in his criticism of the council leadership, referring to Ms Kemkaran as "captain chaos" and noting that "since Reform took over the council in May, we have seen a deeply worrying lack of care and diligence."
The political fallout extends beyond the fire authority. Co-Labour group leaders at KCC, Alistair Brady and Vince Maple, have warned that "the Reform UK chaos is spreading beyond KCC," while Green group leader Mark Hood, who serves on the Fire Authority, endorsed the FBU's concerns, stating Reform are "unfit to control the services that the people of Kent rely on."
As Kent residents await resolution, the situation raises serious questions about Reform UK's ability to manage essential public services and maintain the governance structures that keep communities safe.
