Reform UK Council Leader investigates Leak of Critical Video
MAIDSTONE, KENT - The leader of Kent County Council, Susan Kemkaran of Reform UK, has launched an examination to identify those responsible for leaking a video of her candid remarks about the council’s budget challenges and interactions with other local leaders. The video, revealed this week, featured Kemkaran accusing fellow council leaders of “shocking” ignorance regarding local government reorganisation (LGR) plans and suggesting gender played a role in their attitudes toward her.
Kent County Council, with a £2.5bn annual budget, is viewed as a key test case for Reform UK’s ability to govern effectively ahead of a potential general election. The council faces pressure to balance its budget, raising the possibility of council tax increases, and to navigate national LGR proposals that could lead to the restructuring of Kent’s local authorities.
In the leaked video, Kemkaran told fellow Reform councillors: “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. It’s that crucial.” She emphasized the importance of avoiding a full 5% council tax hike,stating,”If we 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 council… People are looking at us,they are judging us every single day.”
Kemkaran also indicated that party leader Nigel Farage was keenly aware of Kent’s position as a “flagship council,” stating, “He is super-aware that we are the flagship council.”
