Reform UK has expelled two of its Kent county councillors, Robert Ford and Bill Barrett, after a misconduct allegation and a leaked video revealed internal tensions. The pair were removed via email from party headquarters on Monday, which stated they had “undermined” the interests of the party and brought it into “disrepute”.
Ford, who represents Maidstone Rural West, was suspended following an “unofficial complaint” from several female council staff members. He has denied the allegations, telling the BBC there was “not one shred of evidence” against him. Barrett, representing Ashford, had been critical of the council hierarchy and was suspended alongside three other councillors last week.
The three other suspended councillors — Oliver Bradshaw, Paul Thomas and Maxine Fothergill — remain suspended pending investigation, the Guardian understands. The suspensions and expulsions leave Reform UK with 48 councillors on Kent County Council, down from the 57 seats it won in May. Two other councillors had been previously suspended, and one has defected to Ukip.
The leaked video, first published by the Guardian, showed councillors complaining about “backbiting” and being ignored by group leader Linden Kemkaran, who told them to “fucking suck it up” if they disagreed with her decisions. Kemkaran has since launched a hunt for the “cowards” who leaked the meeting. Antony Hook, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said the “chaos” was affecting constituents, with a committee meeting on school transport cancelled due to the suspensions.
