Overview
- Reform confirmed the expulsion of Bill Barrett, Robert Ford, Oliver Bradshaw, Paul Thomas and Brian Black from its Kent contingent.
- The party said Barrett and Ford had undermined the party and brought it into disrepute, while Bradshaw, Thomas and Black showed a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour.
- Reform’s presence on Kent County Council has dropped from 57 seats won in May to fewer than 50 active councillors after suspensions and removals.
- The disciplinary actions followed a leaked online meeting where leader Linden Kemkaran told colleagues to “f***ing suck it up” and called the £2.5bn council a “shop window.”
- Local Liberal Democrats say council work is being disrupted, citing a cancelled committee on school transport, while Ford denies misconduct and the party rejects bullying claims.