Reform UK have claimed the government is trying to take control of the flagship local authority.

Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, hit back at Labour’s attacks (Image: Getty)

Reform UK has accused the Labour Government of plotting to take over Kent County Council, its “flagship” local authority. Figures from the insurgent party have claimed that a co-ordinated campaign by the Government is under way to undermine confidence in the authority, paving the way for Whitehall to step in and seize control of its operations.

The council, which Nigel Farage’s party won at the 2025 local elections, has come under sustained fire from Labour frontbenchers in recent months. During one recent Commons appearance, the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, accused the Reform-led administration of presiding over “chaos”. He claimed the council had become a symbol of poor governance, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously told MPs he sympathised with residents whose lives were being “disrupted by staggering incompetence”.

Linden Kemkaran said the council had received an ‘unsubstantiated campaign of attacks’ (Image: Getty)

The council has attracted fresh criticism over its spending after defending plans to fork out nearly £100,000 a year to fund political assistants, despite having campaigned on cutting waste and saving money.

The motion, which was proposed by council leader Linden Kemkaran and passed 65-26, allows assistants to support party groups and liaise with the press. However, opposition councillors accused the move of being hypocritical and politically motivated.

Only Reform and the Liberal Democrats qualify for the roles under council rules, and critics warned that taxpayer funds are being used for party purposes rather than public services.

A leaked forecast has also revealed a £60million budget gap for 2026-27, even with a full 5% council tax increase, rising from a £20.1million shortfall under the previous Tory administration.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has hit back at the Government, claiming the attacks are politically motivated and designed to justify central government intervention, The Telegraph reported.

He said: “We have strong reason to believe what they’re trying to do is sow a loss of confidence in one of our councils, and they’ve targeted Kent.”

The Lincolnshire MP added that his party suspects the Government is going to send in commissioners, either over the Christmas period or just into the new year.

Reform will be “ready to thwart” what he called a “coup” in the courts, Mr Tice said.

Ms Kemkaran also said that the council has been subject to a “prolonged, vicious and unsubstantiated campaign of attacks”.

A Labour spokesperson has strongly rejected the accusations, branding Reform’s claims as “utter nonsense”.

The spokesperson told The Telegraph: “These claims are utter nonsense. Labour didn’t suspend nine Reform councillors in Kent for incompetence and disloyalty – Reform did.

“Labour didn’t tell Kent’s Reform councillors to ‘suck it up’ if they didn’t like the council leader’s decisions – Reform’s own council leader did.”

The Prime Minister’s party then alleged that Mr Farage’s outfit has failed to find the savings it promised, and is now considering increasing council tax.

The spokesperson added that Reform needs to “grow up” and start running Kent council “competently”.