Reform councillor expelled after video leak

Isabella Kemp claimed all expelled councillors had "previously raised serious concerns" about certain individuals and practices within Reform KCC

Reform UK has expelled a councillor previously suspended following the leak of a video of a heated virtual council meeting.

Kent County Council (KCC) member Isabella Kemp had been suspended by the party, which says she has now been expelled "following an internal investigation into the leaking of confidential information".

Reform said its investigation found that Kemp had created a WhatsApp group in which making a screen recording of the meeting was discussed, alongside encouraging a colleague to be dishonest about a vote of no confidence.

Denying the allegations, she claimed that all councillors who were expelled had previously "raised serious concerns" about KCC.

Kemp said she "strongly" denied the accusations.

"I offered to have my phone and laptop subjected to forensic examination to clarify the situation, but this offer was declined," she said.

Kemp said she believed her expulsion was a consequence of her commitment to "standing up for integrity and transparency" within Reform.

The video, which was leaked to The Guardian, showed KCC's Reform UK leader Linden Kemkaran swearing and shouting during a council meeting.

She was shown telling party members to "suck it up" regarding her decisions.

The leader has ruled out resigning in the wake of the leaks and party leader Nigel Farage said he backed her "100%".

Reform said they had expelled Maxine Fothergill for failing to disclose "a serious matter" during vetting

Five councillors were initially booted out of the party following the leak.

Maxine Fothergill, who was suspended amid alleged links to the leak, has now been expelled for failing to disclose "a serious matter" during vetting, according to Reform.

Reform said its investigation found insufficient evidence to conclude that she was responsible for the leak.

Fothergill has always denied the leak allegations and released a statement stating she "completely" rejected the reasons cited for expulsion.

She said: "This outcome follows my whistleblowing in August, when I raised concerns about how local government reorganisation was being handled and was wrongly accused of instigating a vote of no confidence.

"The Party expelled me without a hearing, without disclosing any evidence, and in clear breach of its own Constitution."

Fothergill said she would be "taking action" against Reform.

Reform UK won 57 of the council's 81 seats to take control of the authority in local elections in May, overturning 30 years of Conservative Party dominance.

They have lost a total of 11 councillors since, leaving them with 46 representatives on the council.