Exclusive: Footage reveals Kent leader berating councillors amid rows over budgets and bullying claims
Bitter divisions in Reform UK’s flagship county council have been laid bare in a leaked video of a chaotic internal meeting where members were told to “fucking suck it up” if they did not agree with decisions.
Councillors can be seen complaining about “backbiting” and being ignored by their leader, Linden Kemkaran, who tells them they will be “screwed” and that Reform can forget about winning the general election if they don’t balance Kent’s budget.
In an extraordinary recording, which shows the inner workings of Reform’s Kent operation, Kemkaran shouts down fellow members before telling them they will be “muted” in scenes reminiscent of the viral “Jackie Weaver” video from a parish council Zoom meeting in 2021.
Kent county council, which has a £2.5bn annual budget and is one of 10 where Nigel Farage’s party has outright control, is considered to be a make or break showcase for whether Reform can be trusted to competently govern before a general election.
