Reform UK Kent council leader reports video leak ‘cowards’

The leader of a Reform UK-led council has threatened to expel the “cowards” who leaked footage of a heated online meeting.

A video published by The Guardian appears to show Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran swearing and telling councillors from her party to “suck it up” regarding some of her decisions.

In a message, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Kemkaran reportedly subsequently informed members that she had passed her “suspicions of who is responsible for this treachery to head office”.

Kemkaran has been approached for comment.

Reform UK said its councils were “laser focused on achieving their election promises”.

“This can sometimes lead to robust debate, but it shows just how seriously Reform UK representatives take their responsibilities to cut waste and deliver value for money,” a party spokesperson added.

In the video, Kemkaran appears to threaten to mute a councillor when they asked for an explanation on her decision-making.

The group appeared to be discussing the council’s budget and plans for local government reorganisation in Kent.

Kemkaran also appears to tell members that if they can “avoid putting up council tax by the full 5%, that is going to be the best thing that we can do to show that Reform can actually run something as big as Kent County Council”.

In Kemkaran’s message to Reform UK councillors following the leaked video, she said those responsible for sharing the meeting were “weak” and “foolish”.

They were “obsessed with personal gain at the expense of group success” and had “no political future” once found, Kemkaran added.

She said: “To have people on the inside who smile to our faces, sit next to us at meetings, share jokes, anecdotes, before stabbing us in the back is very sad indeed.”

Kemkaran told members a “thorough investigation is already under way” and the “guilty parties” would be expelled.