Reform UK’s flagship council in Kent faces criticism after approving plans to spend tens of thousands on political assistants amid budget pressures.
The action follows accusations of hypocrisy made against Warwickshire councillors from Nigel Farage's party in July when they decided to spend £150,000 on advisers, some of whom are being parachuted in by the national party to handle a variety of difficulties in Reform-run councils.
Reform candidates were elected on promises to reduce waste and save money, and both councils are currently experiencing budget issues.
Wearing turquoise Santa's elf hats, a newly leaked recording of a meeting of Reform council members in Kent revealed that one of their leaders, Maxwell Harrison, informed them earlier this week that a former Reform director of campaigning and training at the party's headquarters had been employed by the council as a "political assistant."
Harrison identified him as Michael Hadwen, a controversial figure on social media who has shown support for Enoch Powell's immigration views.
Hadwen responded,
"Enoch was right, he was just before the times,"
to a tweet from Conservative lawmaker Daniel Hannan that claimed Powell was mistaken regarding immigration.
Hadwen also declared that
"Russia is not my enemy" '
in April 2018, roughly one month after Russian agents attempted to kill Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury. He added,
"We should be working with them, and not throwing around threats like a spoilt child."
At a meeting of the Kent County Council on Thursday, the nomination was approved with 45 votes in favor and 26 against. Reform still holds a majority in the council after purging some members due to severe internal strife.
These retaliations followed the release of video that showed Reform council members arguing and being urged to "fucking suck it up" by its leader, Linden Kemkaran.
Reform UK has made use of a provision in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 that permits councils to designate up to three individuals to help members of political groupings. With the exception of national insurance and pension contributions, the assistants may receive salaries of up to £49,282.
He said:
“Kent county council is in a worsening financial state under Reform with the projected overspend now at £46m and rising.
The person mentioned appears to have a record of concerning views such as endorsing the racist Enoch Powell who spoke against the idea people of different races living happily together in Britain. The person named has evidently also said we should work with Russia.”
A Reform UK Kent spokesperson said:
“Providing professional political support to its leadership is entirely proportionate, and the role will be cost neutral.
Kent county council’s budget is double that of the Treasury department, which has eight political advisers, and larger than the Department for Business and Trade, who employ four political advisers, despite both already employing armies of civil servants.
Political assistants are a normal and established part of local government. Many councils, including the Lib Dem-controlled Gloucestershire county council, have allocated budgets for these roles.”
What arguments did Reform UK use to justify the hires?
Reform UK justified the political adjunct hires at Kent County Council by arguing they enable effective leadership under the Original Government and Housing Act 1989 section 9, furnishing fixed- term support for exploration, speech medication, and policy development without tying to full- time endless places.
Leaders emphasized sidekicks as standard for qualifying groups (those with over 10 councillors), abetting scrutiny and opposition functions; posts cap at £49,282 full- time original per the 2021 Remuneration Order, with inflexibility for part- time to minimize costs.
The move aligns with Reform's governance modelpost-2025 preemption, framing it as essential for delivering fiat pledges amid council challenges, despite opposition claims of waste.