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Seven Ex-Reform Councillors Join Restore Britain to Form New Group on Kent Council

The move follows expulsions from Reform UK, aligning with Rupert Lowe’s promise of local autonomy under his new umbrella movement.

Overview

  • Restore Britain confirmed that Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Brian Black, Robert Ford, Isabella Kemp, Maxine Fothergill and Dean Burns will sit as an official group on Kent County Council.
  • Six of the seven councillors had been expelled from Reform UK, prompting a Reform source to dismiss the defections as “welcome to our dregs.”
  • Reform UK won 57 of 81 seats in May but now has 48 councillors after removing nine, weakening its dominance on the council.
  • Rupert Lowe said Restore Britain will not impose a national whip on local matters and announced the party has published a deportation policy.
  • Liberal Democrat opposition leader Antony Hook highlighted the frequent group changes as a sign of continuing instability at the council.