A recently elected Reform UK councillor has found himself at the centre of a criminal investigation after being charged with making threats to kill his wife.
George Field, 61, who was elected to represent the Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow ward on Swale Borough Council just weeks ago, faces serious charges following a domestic incident at a property in Church Lane, Bobbing.
Kent Police confirmed they were called to the address on the evening of Friday, 24 May. Following their investigation, Field was charged with one count of making threats to kill and one count of criminal damage.
The alleged offences are reported to have been directed towards his wife, although specific details of the incident have not been fully disclosed by authorities.
Field appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Sunday, 26 May, where the gravity of the charges was formally presented. He has since been released on bail with strict conditions pending a further hearing at Maidstone Crown Court.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local political community, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory period for Reform UK following recent electoral gains. The party has acknowledged the situation, confirming that Field has been suspended from his duties and from the party itself pending the outcome of the judicial process.
A spokesman for Reform UK stated: "We are aware of the situation and George Field has been suspended from the party with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the court case."
This development places the nascent political career of George Field in serious jeopardy and raises questions about the vetting processes for political candidates. The local community in Bobbing and the wider Swale area await the next steps in this unfolding legal drama.
