Reform wins control in Kent after Tory wipeout
EMILY SINCLAIR/BBCReform UK has taken control of Kent County Council, wiping out the Conservative majority after nearly 30 years.
Leader Roger Gough, who lost his own seat, described the situation as "apocalyptic" for his party.
At a celebration event in Paddock Wood on Friday night, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the result as "the most significant day of my career".
The Conservatives have lost 57 of the authority's 81 seats, with 57 won by Reform UK.
Farage added: "We have literally, in one election, replaced what has been the natural party of government for Kent.
"That gives us, of course, responsibilities. We have to deliver, but it is a remarkable result. I can't think of a more rapid tectonic shift in British politics, ever, than we've seen today."
Farage added that Reform UK already had plans to tackle the budget deficit that the previous administration had been facing in Kent.
All 72 electoral divisions across the county were up for election - equating to 81 councillors in total.
Linden Kemkaran, new Reform UK councillor for Maidstone South East, said: "We have won today, but now we need to focus on delivery, on change and the expectation the public have for a new politics."
Roger Gough said he was "deeply disappointed" to lose his seat, but he felt the Conservatives were paying a price for their time in government.
He said: "I think overall the Conservative Party is still paying the price heavily for when we were in government nationally, in particular in 2021/22.
"I think that broke the bond between us and many of our voters, and I don't think that's ever been restored."
Emily Sinclair/BBCThe Conservatives had overall control of the authority with 56 of the 81 councillors before the vote.
By 17:00 BST, all 81 seats had been declared, with 57 going to Reform UK, 12 to the Liberal Democrats, five to the Conservatives, five to the Greens and two to Labour.
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceCharlotte Wright, BBC South East political editor, said: "This has been a complete disaster for the Conservatives.
"Kent County Council has been dominated by the Tories for most of its existence.
"This was a decisive rejection of the mainstream, in favour of a party that promised to 'fix a Broken Britain'."
Who has been in charge?
Before the 2025 vote, the council was made up of 55 Conservatives, six Liberal Democrats, five Labour councillors (including Labour and Co-operative), five Green Party members, four Independent councillors, three Reform UK members, one Heritage Party councillor, one Swale Independents councillor, and there was one vacancy.
Kent County Council has been Conservative-run for most of its existence.
Since it was created in its current format in 1974, it has had a Conservative leader for all but four years, as between 1993 and 1997 the authority was led by joint leaders from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
In 1997, the Conservatives won their majority back, which they have held onto since, although their authority was shaken in the 2013 election when Ukip became the second largest party on the council, before losing all their seats four years later.
Phil Harrison/BBCWhat happened at the last election?
In the last county council election in 2021, the Conservatives won 49% of the vote, securing 61 seats.
In terms of seats won, the Lib Dems came second with six, Labour got five and the Green Party secured four.
Reform UK did not win any seats.
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