Traditional parties lose dominance as far-right groups surge in Kent County Council
Conservative forces were soundly beaten in Kent County Council elections, with Reform UK capturing the majority of seats and new right-wing splinter groups appearing.
Harry Rayner, a retired maritime executive and leader of the Conservative opposition on Kent County Council, acknowledged a crushing defeat after the May 2025 local elections, when his party surrendered 55 of its 60 seats to the far-right Reform UK, which won 57 of the council's 81 seats. By February, nine Reform UK councillors had left the party; seven of them established Restore Britain, a more radical anti-migration group founded by Rupert Lowe and supported by Elon Musk, while another councillor returned to the Conservatives and one stepped down.
A Restore Britain placard now appears on a closed door of the council building. Green Party councillor Stuart Jeffery, one of five Green members on the council, called the situation “totally depressing,” alleging that Reform UK councillors are openly racist and have rolled back climate-related declarations and diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The council’s political landscape remains fragmented as the new right-wing factions vie for influence.
Why it matters
The shift shows how far-right parties are reshaping local governance in a traditionally Conservative region.
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