Reform suspends four councillors after video leak

Reform UK has suspended four councillors following the leak of a video of a heated virtual council meeting.

The councillors sit on Kent County Council (KCC), one of ten local authorities run by Reform UK and seen by the party as a test case of its ability to govern.

It comes after a clip was leaked to The Guardian of KCC leader Linden Kemkaran swearing and telling party members to "suck it up" regarding her decisions.

When asked by BBC Radio Kent if the suspensions were linked to the video, she declined to comment.

"It is business as usual at Kent County Council," she said.

A Reform UK spokesperson said Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barret and Maxine Fothergrill have had the whip suspended pending an investigation.

They said the suspensions were the result of "evidence" the councillors "brought the party into disrepute".

A leaked video appears to show councillor Kemkaran telling councillors from her party to "suck it up"

Councillor Kemkaran was heard in the clip raising her voice at councillor Thomas during an exchange on local government reorganisation.

Kent's 14 councils are set to abolish themselves under government proposals and be replaced with three or four new, larger unitary bodies.

In the leaked clip, councillor Kemkaran tells the councillors: "I am not a dictator or an autocrat. I like feedback. I like to discuss.

"However, when it comes to making the really big decisions, and LGR [local government reorganisation] is one of those really big decisions... sometimes I will make a decision that might not be liked by everybody in the group."

She then uses an expletive as she tells them they will have to "suck it up", prompting one councillor to gasp open-mouthed, before laughing.

The Guardian said that the comments sparked dissent from others in the meeting, including councillor Thomas who said backbenchers were not being briefed on the plans.

He said to the meeting: "Quite frankly, the question is…is that the right leader and the right cabinet?"

As councillor Kemkaran and councillor Thomas continued with their heated exchanges, often speaking over each other, councillor Thomas said: "The problem is, it's easier when it's face-to-face."

As he attempted to continue, councillor Kemkaran replied angrily: "I am meant to be on bloody holiday this week Paul! I don't want to be having this meeting."

She then said the meeting was "running out of time" and threatened to mute councillor Thomas, which prompted deputy leader Brian Collins to burst into laughter.

"You keep laughing your head off mate," councillor Thomas said.

'Treachery'

Suspended councillor Ms Fothergrill denied allegations she was the source of the leaked video.

"Reform UK has a once in a lifetime generation mission to save our country," she said.

"Distractions like this will only play into the hands of our opponents."

Rosie Duffield, an Independent MP for Canterbury, said Reform UK looks "chaotic" and "unprofessional".

She said councillor Kemkaran seemed more concerned with ending the meeting to go on holiday than about discussing issues affecting people in Kent.

Ms Duffield added that the council leader should "seriously" consider resigning.

Councillor Kemkaran previously said those behind the leak were "weak" and "foolish" to have committed an act of "treachery", and that a "thorough investigation" had been launched.

She could face a vote of no confidence in the coming weeks over the leaked video, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The LDRS reported that a backbencher, who has asked not to be named, has already begun seeking the required number of signatures to spark the possible dismissal.

Councillor Anthony Hook, opposition leader of KCC, has called councillor Kemkaran's position "untenable" and said she is "unfit to lead".

Reform UK took control of KCC - the biggest local authority in the country - in May, after winning 57 of the 81 seats, overturning a 30-year Tory majority.

Suspended councillor Oliver Bradshaw declined to comment.

The other suspended councillors Paul Thomas and Bill Barret have been approached by the BBC.