Reform UK’s flagship council has been mocked as having “more clowns than Billy Smart’s circus” as councillors met for the first time since footage of a chaotic online meeting emerged.
Several members of the party in Kent were suspended after footage of the meeting was leaked last month, in which council leader Linden Kemkaran could be seen berating backbench councillors when they questioned her.
The administration was confronted by opposition leaders during a chaotic meeting at Kent County Council on Thursday, where they were branded a “laughing stock”.
Harry Rayner, leader of the Conservatives, said the council had “more clowns on display since I saw Bill Smart’s last circus”.
He was joined by leader of the Liberal Democrats in Kent, Antony Hook, who said the council is in “political crisis” and that he had heard of “bets being made” about whether the administration would last until Christmas.
He urged councillors to “not act in a way that becomes a punchline on Have I Got News for You”.
Green Party leader Mark Hood compared the group to another TV show – The Traitors – and said member awaited to see who else may be deemed as such.
Combating the statements from opposition leaders Ms Kemkaran said: “Every time I’m in this chamber it becomes like a group therapy session – that was more of a cry for help from the opposition.”
She added their contributions had gone “from Halloween to panto season in blink of an eye”.
Ms Kemkaran drew on her son’s experience of military training, comparing the dropout rate from his fellow recruits to those within her party.
“Along the way some had quit because they couldn’t hack it. Others had been thrown out for bad behaviour or were simply unwilling to accept discipline,” she said, adding: “Sitting here now six months on, we too may be slightly leaner in number, but we are much stronger, and we are totally battle fit.”
The council chair, Richard Palmer, had to remind councillors several times of the Nolan principles in the meeting, which saw laughter and interruptions erupt in the chamber.
When asked at one point whether she believes her actions in the last council meeting and since adhered to the Nolan principles, Ms Kemkaran simply replied: “Yes.”
Kent’s deputy leader, Reform councillor Brian Collins, had to speak over laughter in the chamber as he failed to rule out whether the council would be raising council tax.
When asked how much less residents could expect to be paying next year, Mr Collins said “no decision had been made” on the matter.
In response to laughter coming from other councillors, Mr Collins said they “may laugh” and “smirk” but insisted that it is Reform’s “intention to one day be able to lower council tax”.
The party had taken control of KCC in May, winning 57 of 81 seats – but ongoing suspensions and removals mean fewer than 48 Reform councillors remain at the authority.
Most recently, councillor Isabella Kemp, who represents Sheppey on KCC, was suspended from the party ahead of the council meeting on Thursday.
Just last week, Bill Barrett, Oliver Bradshaw and Paul Thomas, along with another councillor, Brian Black, were kicked out of Reform UK following investigations.
In the full council meeting on Thursday, one of the suspended councillors, Mr Thomas, challenged members of his former party on ongoing road closures.
He accused the council of “kicking the can down the road”, as he said residents were “suffering” and going without bus services for up to six weeks.
Cabinet member for highways and transport, Peter Osborne, said their powers do not extend to preventing such emergency works from taking place.
A former Reform councillor has also announced he is considering legal action against the party for defamation of his character following his removal.
Councillor Robert Ford was removed from Reform UK last month following unofficial complaints from female members of staff.
On Thursday, he said: “I’m currently taking legal advice regarding the defamation of my character by Reform UK at KCC that occurred on October 13 and I intend in the coming months to pursue this with vigour.”
Mr Ford claims the complaints relate to an “erotic novel” he had published, which he had mentioned to people at KCC.
