Reform UK, the political party that made headlines after seizing control of Kent County Council in May 2025, is once again embroiled in controversy. On November 14, 2025, the party expelled two of its county councillors, Isabella Kemp and Maxine Fothergill, following a turbulent internal investigation into the leak of a video that exposed heated exchanges during a virtual council meeting. The saga has shone a spotlight on party discipline, transparency, and the challenges that come with rapid political ascendance.
The drama began in earnest when The Guardian published a video on October 18, 2025, showing Kent County Council (KCC) leader Linden Kemkaran, of Reform UK, swearing and shouting at party members. In a particularly charged moment, Kemkaran told her councillors they would have to "suck it up" regarding her decisions on local government reorganisation. The video’s publication sent shockwaves through local politics, raising uncomfortable questions about party culture and leadership style.
The fallout was swift. Reform UK launched an internal investigation, which concluded that Isabella Kemp, a 23-year-old mother of two representing Swale, had created and administered a WhatsApp group where making a screen recording of the meeting was discussed. The investigation further alleged that Kemp encouraged a colleague to be dishonest about a vote of no confidence and failed to disclose that such recordings were being made. Kemp was not only expelled from the party but also fired from her part-time role as a data protection officer with Reform UK. She is now considering taking her former employer to an industrial tribunal and has reportedly sought advice from a whistle-blowing charity.
Kemp has vigorously denied the allegations. She told the BBC, "I strongly deny the accusations. I offered to have my phone and laptop subjected to forensic examination to clarify the situation, but this offer was declined." Kemp added that she believed her expulsion was a consequence of her commitment to "standing up for integrity and transparency" within the party. "When I offered to hand in my devices to the party for forensic examination and they refused, I knew there was never going to be a proper investigation," she said, according to local news reports.
The controversy did not end with Kemp. Maxine Fothergill, the councillor for Sevenoaks, was also expelled—though not for leaking the video. The party’s investigation found insufficient evidence to link her to the leak. Instead, Fothergill’s expulsion stemmed from her alleged failure to disclose a "serious matter" during the party’s vetting process. According to a statement from Reform UK headquarters, Fothergill had been sued for defamation in 2017 and entered into a Consent Order that required her to pay damages and issue a public apology in open court. The party argued that such information, if undisclosed, could embarrass or discredit Reform UK.
Fothergill, for her part, has always protested her innocence regarding the leak. She released a statement in which she "completely" rejected the reasons cited for her expulsion, claiming that the party acted in clear breach of its own Constitution. "This outcome follows my whistleblowing in August, when I raised concerns about how local government reorganisation was being handled and was wrongly accused of instigating a vote of no confidence," she said, according to the BBC. "The Party expelled me without a hearing, without disclosing any evidence, and in clear breach of its own Constitution." Fothergill announced her intention to take further action against Reform UK.
The leadership of Reform UK has stood firm in the face of these internal disputes. Party leader Nigel Farage publicly backed Linden Kemkaran, the KCC leader at the center of the leaked video. Kemkaran herself has ruled out resigning, despite the uproar over her conduct in the meeting. According to the BBC, Farage said he supported Kemkaran "100%." Five councillors were initially expelled after the leak, and the party’s disciplinary actions have now claimed a total of eleven members since the May elections.
The internal strife comes at a particularly sensitive time for Reform UK. In the May 2025 local elections, the party achieved a stunning victory, winning 57 of the council’s 81 seats and ending three decades of Conservative Party dominance in Kent. But the post-election period has been anything but smooth. With the loss of 11 councillors, Reform UK now holds 46 seats—a significant drop in just a few months.
The expulsions have also raised broader questions about the party’s approach to internal discipline and transparency. Kemp and Fothergill both allege that their expulsions were politically motivated and not the result of fair or thorough investigations. Kemp’s claim that her offer of forensic examination of her devices was refused has sparked debate about due process within the party. Fothergill’s assertion that she was denied a hearing and expelled without being shown any evidence adds fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, the party’s justification for Fothergill’s expulsion—her failure to disclose past legal issues—has highlighted the challenges that new political movements face in vetting candidates and maintaining public trust. The 2017 defamation case, which led to a Consent Order and a public apology, may have been resolved years ago, but the party’s leadership evidently felt it was still relevant to Fothergill’s suitability as a councillor.
For observers of British politics, the Kent saga is a cautionary tale about the difficulties of managing rapid political success. Reform UK’s rise has been meteoric, but the growing pains are apparent. The party’s internal investigations, disciplinary actions, and leadership style are all under scrutiny—not just from political opponents, but from within its own ranks.
As of now, both Kemp and Fothergill remain defiant. Kemp is considering legal action and has made it clear that she does not intend to go quietly. Fothergill, too, has pledged to fight her expulsion and defend her reputation. For Reform UK, the coming months will be critical—not only to maintain its grip on Kent County Council but to demonstrate that it can weather internal storms without losing sight of the values it claims to uphold.
With the dust still settling and both sides digging in, Kent’s political landscape remains as unpredictable as ever. The story of Reform UK’s internal battles is far from over, and the consequences could shape the party’s future for years to come.
