The Reform leader of Kent County Council refused to confirm if the suspensions were linked to the video
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 added the suspensions were the result of “evidence” the councillors “brought the party into disrepute”.
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A leaked video appears to show councillor Kemkaran telling councillors from her party to “suck it up”
Councillor Kemkaran was heard in the clip shouting 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 video, 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 says they will have to “suck it up”, causing one councillor to gasp open-mouthed, before laughing.
The Guardian said 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 councillors Kemkaran and Thomas continue arguing, often speaking over each other, councillor Thomas says: “The problem is, it’s easier when it’s face-to-face.”
Attempting to carry on, councillor Kemkaran replies angrily: “I am meant to be on bloody holiday this week Paul! I don’t want to be having this meeting.”
She then says the meeting is “running out of time” and threatens to mute councillor Thomas, which prompted deputy leader Brian Collins to burst into laughter.
“You keep laughing your head off mate,” councillor Thomas adds.
‘Treachery’
In a statement on Monday, councillor Thomas said he was still supportive of the leadership within the chamber.
He added he expected to be “exonerated” and would “work tirelessly” to ensure everything the electorate wanted was done.
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 councillor Bill Barret has been approached by the BBC.
