Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP

A Reform UK county councillor in Kent has defected to UKIP, it has been announced.

Amelia Randall, who serves the Birchington & Rural division in Thanet, has left the party four months after being elected.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “We remain committed to our mission of delivering for our residents and ensuring Nigel Farage becomes Britain’s next Prime Minister.”

Opposition leader at Kent County Council, Antony Hook, has called for Randall to resign and a by-election to be called.

He said: “She should resign so that Birchington residents can make a fresh choice about who they want to represent them.”

Reform UK county councillor defects to UKIP, BBC

#AmeliaRandall #AntonyHook #Kent #Quiting #UKIP

Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections

Kent County Council, led by the Reform UK party, has announced the removal of all books featuring transgender themes from the children’s sections of its libraries—a move that has sparked significant backlash and concern.

The council’s leader, Linden Kemkaran, revealed the decision via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 2 July. “Another victory for #commonsenseinKent,” she wrote. “My brilliant cabinet member Cllr Paul Webb has just got this trans material REMOVED from the children’s sections of all Kent’s libraries. Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.”

The announcement did not include details on which specific titles or materials were removed, nor how many books are affected. Kent County Council oversees 99 community libraries and operates five mobile library vans.

Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader in the council, criticised the announcement as both “vague” and “bizarre”, particularly as it was made on social media rather than through formal council channels. Hook has formally written to the head of Kent Library Services seeking clarification on what materials are being removed.

Reform UK-Led Kent Council Removes Trans-Themed Books from Children’s Library Sections, gayexpress.co.nz

#AntonyHook #backlash #bookBans #commonsenseinKent #Kent #libraries #LindenKemkaran #PaulWebb #Trans #Twitter #vagueOutcomes #warOnWoke #InTheNews