Seven former Reform UK councillors have defected to a newly launched political party, Restore Britain, marking a dramatic shift in the balance of Kent County Council and intensifying the ongoing turbulence within the county’s political landscape. The announcement, made on February 17, 2026, by Restore Britain’s founder and Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, has drawn both sharp criticism and cautious optimism from various corners of local and national politics.
The seven councillors—Maxine Fothergill, Robert Ford, Paul Thomas, Dean Burns, Isabella Kemp, Brian Black, and Oliver Bradshaw—will now form an official Restore Britain group on Kent County Council. According to BBC News, six of these councillors had been expelled from Reform UK in 2025, the very party that swept to power in Kent with a landslide victory just the previous May. The seventh, Dean Burns, mysteriously departed his deputy cabinet role at the end of last year.
Rupert Lowe, who himself was suspended from Reform UK following allegations of threatening behavior (allegations for which the Crown Prosecution Service later found insufficient evidence to proceed), launched Restore Britain on February 13, 2026. Initially conceived as a political movement, Restore Britain is now expected to act as an umbrella party, aiming to attract disenchanted local politicians and offer what Lowe describes as "independence of mind." Announcing the new group on social media, Lowe declared, "I am delighted to announce that seven Kent County Councillors have today joined Restore Britain, and they will form an official Restore Britain group on the council. This is a very important day for our party. There will be many more to come."
The formation of the Restore Britain group instantly makes it the third largest bloc on Kent County Council, with seven seats—surpassing the Conservatives' five and Labour's two. As of now, the council's 81 seats are divided among Reform UK (47), Liberal Democrats (12), Restore Britain (7), Conservatives (5), and Labour (2). Lowe’s new party is openly seeking to attract more dissatisfied councillors, with ambitions to grow its influence and perhaps even challenge for the role of official opposition.
Reform UK, however, has not taken the defection lightly. A party source, quoted by BBC News, dismissed the move with biting sarcasm: "Restore are welcome to our dregs. Let's not forget that six of these councillors were expelled. If this is Restore's bar for councillors then it must be very low indeed." The party’s leadership at Kent County Council, including Linden Kemkaran, has so far declined to comment in detail, but has disputed the characterization of Restore Britain as a true political party.
The backstory to these expulsions is as colorful as it is contentious. Councillor Isabella Kemp was expelled in November 2025 for allegedly leaking confidential information—a charge she has consistently denied. The incident was linked to the publication of a video by The Guardian on October 18, 2025, showing council leader Linden Kemkaran swearing at colleagues during a heated virtual meeting. The party’s investigation concluded Kemp had created and administered a WhatsApp group where recording the meeting was discussed, and further accused her of encouraging dishonesty about a vote of no confidence. Kemp, for her part, maintains, "I was expecting it so there's not much to say, really. 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."
Maxine Fothergill was expelled for failing to disclose a “serious matter” during her vetting. According to a statement from Reform UK headquarters, Fothergill had previously been sued for defamation and required to issue a public apology in open court—an episode she contends should not have disqualified her from service. Robert Ford was suspended in October 2025 amid allegations of misconduct following complaints from several women, which he has denied, stating he was never informed of the specific allegations. Meanwhile, Brian Black, Paul Thomas, and Oliver Bradshaw were expelled for what the party called “a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behavior.”
The rapid rise and subsequent fracturing of Reform UK in Kent has been one of the most closely watched political stories in the UK’s local government scene. After nearly obliterating the Conservative presence in Kent in the May 2025 elections—winning 57 of 81 seats—Reform UK’s numbers have since slipped below 50 due to high-profile expulsions and resignations. Liberal Democrat Antony Hook, leader of the opposition on Kent County Council, told The Independent, "It is hard to keep track of the ever-changing groups leaving Reform. Lib Dems will continue to work hard for local people and argue for council policies that benefit all the people who live in our wonderful county."
The creation of Restore Britain has also drawn reactions from other former Reform UK figures. Bill Barrett, ex-councillor and former leader of the Independent Reformers Group, commented that Restore Britain is “too right wing for me,” emphasizing his preference for centrist politics. "I sit in the centre ground of British politics where broad churches are made, and that is where I will remain," Barrett said.
Restore Britain is already attempting to carve out a distinct policy identity. The party has published proposals ranging from restoring British pubs through business rate reforms and VAT reductions, to abolishing Britain’s asylum system under a new "Great Clarification Act." Another idea involves establishing a multi-agency unit to investigate "suspicious businesses," especially those described as "cash-heavy, clone-like chains of barbers, vape shops and dessert cafes." On February 18, Lowe posted on X about the party’s detailed deportation policy, promising to show "exactly how we can remove millions of illegal migrants." Notably, Lowe has also pledged that Restore Britain councillors will not be subject to a national whip on local issues, a move designed to underscore the party’s commitment to local independence.
Despite the drama, Reform UK remains a dominant force in national opinion polls. According to Press Association analysis, the party has led more than 170 polls since May 2025, with the latest averages (week ending February 15, 2026) showing Reform on 29%, Labour and the Conservatives tied at 19%, the Greens at 15%, and the Liberal Democrats at 13%. This national momentum, however, contrasts with the party’s recent instability in Kent.
For now, the emergence of Restore Britain adds yet another layer to the complex and shifting landscape of Kent politics. Whether the party can capitalize on local discontent and become a lasting force remains to be seen, but with Rupert Lowe at the helm and more defections rumored to be on the horizon, the county council chamber is sure to remain a place of intrigue and unpredictability in the months ahead.