The leader of Reform UK's flagship local authority has been labelled 'captain chaos' by a furious union, which warns that a wave of councillor suspensions is now posing a direct threat to public safety in Kent.
Council in Disarray
Reform UK secured a dominant victory in May, taking control of Kent County Council (KCC) with 57 of the 81 seats. However, that number has since plummeted to just 48 councillors following a series of internal suspensions and removals from the party.
Critically, the upheaval has engulfed the Kent and Medway Fire Authority. Both its chair, Brian Black, and vice-chair, Isabella Kemp, were among those affected, leaving the vital emergency service oversight body in a state of 'disarray', according to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).
Union Sounds the Alarm
Steve Wright, the FBU's General Secretary, issued a stark warning, demanding the KCC administration 'get a grip' on the deteriorating situation. 'This situation is a shambles and a threat to public safety,' Mr Wright stated. 'Without sound governance, fire and rescue services will not be able to do their jobs properly.'
The practical implications are severe. The chief executive of Kent's Fire and Rescue service is now unable to sanction large spending projects without a fully functional Fire Authority, which is currently missing its key leadership figures.
Joe Weir, an FBU executive council member for the South East, was even more direct, dubbing KCC leader Linden Kemkaran 'captain chaos'. He confirmed that local union representatives have written to Ms Kemkaran requesting a meeting but have received no response.
Political Fallout and Defence
The political opposition at KCC has seized upon the turmoil. The co-leaders of the Labour group, Alistair Brady and Vince Maple, stated it is clear that 'the Reform UK chaos' is 'spreading beyond KCC'.
Mark Hood, leader of the Green group and a member of the Fire Authority, backed the FBU's concerns, stating they are 'absolutely right' to sound the alarm. 'This underlines why Reform are unfit to control the services that the people of Kent rely on,' Mr Hood said.
In a council speech, Ms Kemkaran defended the party's actions, drawing a parallel to her son's army training. She suggested that some had quit because they 'couldn't hack it,' while others were 'thrown out for bad behaviour' or for not being 'team players.'
Despite the internal crisis, Ms Kemkaran has previously positioned the council, with its budget of more than £2.5 billion, as a 'shop window' for what Reform UK could achieve if it ran the country.
Reform UK was contacted for comment on the allegations.
