Reform UK suspends whip from four councillors after 'bringing party into disrepute'

Oct 20, 2025 - 10:21

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Reform UK suspends whip from four councillors after 'bringing party into disrepute'

Reform UK has suspended the whip from four councillors after "bringing party into disrepute".

A video showing fractions within the councillors was posted at the weekend, with the leader of the council vowing to kick out those was responsable for the leak.

A Reform UK spokesman said: "Cllrs Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Bill Barrett and Maxine Fothergill have had the whip suspended pending investigation, following evidence that they brought the party into disrepute."

GB News understands that their suspension relates to the leaked video.

In the May 2025 local elections, Reform UK won control of Kent County Council after winning 57 of the 81 seats, ending almost three decades of Conservative majority rule.

It is unclear who posted the video, which showed a Reform councillor telling members to "suck it up”.

In the video, KCC leader Linden Kemkaran told her councillors: “I am not a dictator or an autocrat. I like feedback, I like to discuss. I like to hear what everybody thinks.

"However, when it comes to making the really big decisions, and LGR is one of those really big decisions."

She added: "Sometimes I will make a decision that might not be liked by everybody in the group. But I am afraid you are just going to have to f****** suck it up."

Paul Thomas, who is one of the four suspended, questioned whether Reform had the "right" leader and cabinet before he was muted by the council leader.

The leader said that managing to avoid raising council tax by 5 per cent would be the “best thing” for KCC.

She said: "People are looking at us, they are judging us every single day, every single minute of every single day. Nigel knows that. He is super aware that we are the flagship council."