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| Reform wins control of Kent County Council after Tory wipeout | Reform wins control of Kent County Council after Tory wipeout |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Nigel Farage visited new councillors and party activists at an event in Paddock Wood on Friday evening | Nigel Farage visited new councillors and party activists at an event in Paddock Wood on Friday evening |
| Reform UK has taken control of Kent County Council, wiping out the Conservative majority after nearly 30 years. | Reform 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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." | "I think that broke the bond between us and many of our voters, and I don't think that's ever been restored." |
| Reform UK councillors and supporters celebrate election victory in Maidstone | Reform UK councillors and supporters celebrate election victory in Maidstone |
| The Conservatives had overall control of the authority with 56 of the 81 councillors before the vote. | The 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. | 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. |
| Leader Roger Gough has lost his seat on Kent County Council | Leader Roger Gough has lost his seat on Kent County Council |
| Charlotte Wright, BBC South East political editor, said: "This has been a complete disaster for the Conservatives. | Charlotte 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. | "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'." | "This was a decisive rejection of the mainstream, in favour of a party that promised to 'fix a Broken Britain'." |
| Linden Kemkaran won a seat in Maidstone South East for Reform UK | Linden Kemkaran won a seat in Maidstone South East for Reform UK |
| Who has been in charge? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| All 72 electoral divisions across the county were up for election | All 72 electoral divisions across the county were up for election |
| When will we know all the results? | When will we know all the results? |
| How the BBC is reporting local election results | How the BBC is reporting local election results |
| Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections | Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections |
| What happened at the last election? | What happened at the last election? |
| In the last county council election in 2021, the Conservatives won 49% of the vote, securing 61 seats. | 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. | 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. | Reform UK did not win any seats. |
| Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |
| Local election count begins in Kent | Local election count begins in Kent |
| Kent County Council election: what you need to know | Kent County Council election: what you need to know |
| Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections | Anger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections |