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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is accompanied by councillor Brian Collins (left) and the Head of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran (right) at Kent County Council at County Hall, Maidstone July 7, 2025
A REFORM UK councillor will face no sanctions after saying he hoped to punch a colleague “right in the jaw” following the leak of a heated video meeting.
Kent County councillor Peter Osborne was the subject of a complaint signed by opposition group leaders after a message he sent last autumn emerged on a WhatsApp group of dozens of councillors.
The comment followed the leaking of footage showing Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran shouting and swearing at fellow Reform members.
Mr Osborne wrote: “I’m hoping this mole is a bloke so I can punch him right in the jaw.”
Emails from Kent County Council said that it will take no further action.
The council concluded the remark was not serious enough to warrant sanctions and said Mr Osborne was not acting in his capacity as a councillor at the time.
Local opposition leaders accused him of breaching the councillor code of conduct through “intimidating behaviour,” warning the message risked creating a “hostile or intimidating environment.”
Liberal Democrat’s Antony Hook said the decision was “disappointing,” adding it was “unacceptable” for a councillor to make such remarks.
Reform UK described the complaint as “vexatious” and declined to comment further.
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