When Linden Kemkaran, leader of Reform UK was caught on a leaked video calling the upcoming budget a “life‑or‑death” decision, the party’s fragile hold on its self‑styled flagship council began to wobble. The footage, surfacing on Monday, October 20, 2025, showed Kemkaran addressing a room of anxious councillors inside the Kent County Council chamber, warning that a failure to balance the £2.5 billion budget could “wipe out Reform’s chances in the next election”. The same clip captured Paul Thomas, a backbench councillor, being muted after he dared to ask whether the party had the “right” leader and cabinet. By the end of the meeting, Kemkaran had labeled the internal squabbles “fighting like rats in a sack”, a description that would later fuel a chain‑reaction of suspensions.
Background to the Reform UK takeover
The May 2025 local elections marked a watershed moment for Reform UK. Riding a wave of anti‑establishment sentiment, the party seized control of ten councils across England, with Kent County Council – overseeing a population of roughly 1.8 million – touted as its showcase. Nigel Farage, the party’s founder, had repeatedly promised “leaner, cleaner local government” and a substantial cut to council tax. To give the pledge a bureaucratic veneer, Reform set up a Department of Local Government Efficiency, nicknamed “Dolge”, modelled loosely on tech‑sector ideas popularised by figures like Elon Musk.
What the leaked video revealed
The recording – identified by insiders as the confidential budget meetingKent County Council chamber – ran for just under 20 minutes but packed a punch. Kemkaran spoke in a cadence that mixed urgency with a thinly veiled threat: “We are going to live or die on that budget. If we don’t balance the books you can forget Reform winning the next election.” She went on to say that avoiding a full 5 % council‑tax hike would be a “political victory”. The video also captured a terse exchange where Thomas asked, “Are we sure this is the right leader for Kent?” before Kemkaran hit the mute button, effectively cutting him off.
Beyond the budget rhetoric, the clip exposed a deeper cultural clash. Several council members were heard exchanging sharp insults, and at one point a voice shouted that the party’s “backbenchers are acting like rats in a sack”. While the profanity was later bleeped in media excerpts, the sentiment resonated with whistle‑blowers who claimed the council had been operating under a “command‑and‑control” style since the takeover.
Suspensions and internal fallout
Within hours of the video’s public release, the party’s disciplinary panel announced the suspension of four councillors, naming Thomas among them. The other three – whose identities have been kept under wraps pending internal investigations – are believed to be senior members of the cabinet that Kemkaran assembled after the May victory. The suspensions were framed as a “necessary step to preserve party unity” in a statement released by Reform UK headquarters in London.
Insiders say the move has deepened the rift between the “leadership bloc” and a growing faction of backbenchers who feel the party’s national messaging is out of step with the fiscal realities they confront daily. One unnamed councillor whispered to a reporter, “We voted for a promise of lower taxes, not a drama that looks like a reality‑TV showdown.” The atmosphere in the council chamber, according to a source who attended the meeting, was “tense enough that you could hear a pin drop” after Kemkaran’s mute command.
Financial stakes: budget and council tax
The £2.5 billion budget under discussion is not just a headline number; it determines funding for everything from road maintenance in the Medway towns to social care in the Weald. The council’s finance officers have warned that, without a modest rate rise, the department‑level deficits could swell to £120 million by the 2026‑27 financial year. Kemkaran’s insistence on capping the increase at “up to 5 %” reflects a compromise between the party’s tax‑cut ethos and the stark numbers produced by the audit team.
- Current council tax pre‑rise: £1,423 per household.
- Projected 5 % increase: an extra £71 per year.
- Estimated savings from Dolge initiatives: £35 million over two years.
- Remaining shortfall if taxes stay flat: roughly £90 million.
Opposition groups, including local branches of the Labour Party, have already begun mobilising residents for a “no‑rise” campaign, arguing that the promised efficiencies have not been delivered fast enough to justify any hike.
Political implications for Reform UK
The scandal arrives at a delicate moment for Nigel Farage, who is eyeing a possible general‑election push for 2026. A party that has long billed itself as the “clean‑sheet” alternative now faces the risk of being painted as an inexperienced ruler unable to manage complex budgets. Political analysts note that the Kent episode could become a cautionary tale for other newly‑won councils, such as those in Lancashire and Dorset, where Reform’s local‑government teams are still in their infancy.
Moreover, the internal disciplinary action underscores a broader strategic dilemma: should Reform tighten its command structure to project stability, or loosen it to accommodate dissenting voices that warn against unrealistic fiscal promises? The answer could shape the party’s narrative in the run‑up to the next national poll, where council‑tax debates are expected to dominate the discourse.
What’s next for Kent County Council?
In the short term, an interim leadership team has been installed to steer the council through the final budgeting cycle, with the expectation that a new budget will be presented to the full council by early December. The suspended councillors remain liable for any disciplinary sanctions, which could range from temporary removal of voting rights to outright expulsion from the party.
Long‑term, residents are likely to feel the impact of any tax adjustment on their household bills, while the council’s service delivery could see cuts or reallocations depending on how the financial gap is finally bridged. For Reform UK, the Kent saga is a live‑test case: manage the numbers, keep the party together, and survive the public’s scrutiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the four councillors suspended?
The party’s disciplinary panel said the suspensions were necessary after the leaked video showed public dissent and challenges to the council leadership, actions they deemed damaging to Reform UK’s cohesion and public image.
What does the 5 % council‑tax increase mean for households?
For an average household paying £1,423 in council tax, a 5 % rise would add about £71 per year. While Reform argues the increase is essential to close a £90 million shortfall, opponents claim the money could be saved through deeper efficiency cuts.
How does this crisis affect Nigel Farage’s national ambitions?
The Kent turmoil challenges Farage’s narrative of Reform UK as a competent governing force. If voters perceive the party as unable to manage local budgets, it could undermine its credibility ahead of the projected 2026 general election.
What role does the Department of Local Government Efficiency (Dolge) play?
Dolge was created to identify and eliminate wasteful spending across Reform‑run councils. So far it claims to have saved £35 million, but the savings have not yet closed the budget gap, prompting debate over whether its methods are sufficient.
Could the suspended councillors be reinstated?
Reinstatement is possible if the disciplinary process finds mitigating circumstances or if the party decides a unified front is more valuable than continued punishment. However, any reversal would likely face criticism from both party hard‑liners and the public.