Reform UK Suspends Kent County Councillor with Immediate Effect
Reform UK has suspended one of its Kent county councillors, Daniel Taylor, who represents the Cliftonville ward in Thanet, with immediate effect. According to a report by Kent Online, Taylor will now sit as an independent councillor.
Taylor was one of 57 candidates from Nigel Farage’s party to win a seat in the local elections on May 1. A Reform UK spokesman confirmed that the group whip had been withdrawn from Cllr Taylor "with immediate effect". In a letter to group leaders, Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran (Reform) stated that the decision was made "due to a very sensitive set of circumstances".
Kemkaran and Taylor have been approached for comment, but have not yet responded. The move has sparked calls for a by-election in the ward, with the Kent Greens already demanding that Taylor resign and trigger a by-election. Tonbridge councillor Mark Hood said: "Cliftonville residents didn’t vote for Mr Taylor; they voted for the Reform candidate. As he is no longer their representative and there is still almost four years left of his term, the right thing to do would be to resign and trigger a by-election."
Lib Dem councillor Alex Ricketts (Lib), who represents Canterbury North, also commented on the issue, saying: "Residents in the area Mr Taylor was elected to represent will expect an explanation of why he has been removed by his own party." Ricketts’ comments were reported by Kent Online.
In April, when campaigning as a candidate for Reform, Taylor described himself as a "local businessman and devoted family man, who has great concerns regarding Cliftonville’s future". He added: "Cliftonville deserves real action by a representative who will step up, be proactive, deal with issues as they arise and fulfil their pledge given during the local election. That representative is ME!!!"
The suspension of Taylor comes at a time when Reform UK is facing challenges in its new role as the majority party at Kent County Council. The party’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) squad arrived at County Hall last week, including the party’s chairman, Zia Yusuf, businessman Aaron Banks, and tech entrepreneur Nathaniel Fried. However, Yusuf and Fried quit the party just days later, before changing their minds and rejoining at the weekend.
The council’s leadership has come under fire for failing to set up committees for the newly elected authority. Labour’s Mike Tapp – the MP for Dover and Deal – has also written to Cllr Kemkaran to raise what he called "increasing concern" over how the authority is being run. However, Cllr Kemkaran issued a fierce defence of her record to date, rejecting the MP’s concerns and accusing him of lacking ideas and credibility.
As reported by Kent Online, Reform UK secured a majority at KCC little more than a month ago, ousting the Conservatives. The party’s performance in the local elections was seen as a significant upset, with many of its candidates winning seats in wards that had previously been held by other parties.
In conclusion, the suspension of Daniel Taylor as a Reform UK councillor has sparked controversy and calls for a by-election in the Cliftonville ward. The move has also raised questions about the stability and leadership of the party at Kent County Council. As the situation continues to unfold, Kent Online will provide updates and analysis on the developments.
