The Conservatives have now seen 10 of its Sevenoaks District Councillors leave the party
A Kent council has gained its first Reform UK member after yet another defection from the ruling Conservatives.
Cllr James Barnett, who represents Cowden & Hever on Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), jumped ship from the Conservatives to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK earlier this month.
“I’ve been a Conservative for over 10 years as a town and district councillor – it’s not a decision that you take easily,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“However my leanings have always been towards supporting Reform, and the [Conservative] group hasn’t really been a settled or cohesive group since 2023.”
Cllr Barnett is now the tenth Tory to leave the party on SDC. The Conservative Party has been historically strong in the district, running the council continuously for decades, and having been the largest party after every election since the district was created in 1974.
But earlier this year, the Tories lost overall control of the council while still remaining the largest party.
Seven councillors left the group, led by former SDC leader Cllr Julia Thornton, to form the West Kent Independents (WKI). Two more later joined them.
In the past year, SDC has been led by three separate Conservatives – Cllr Julia Thornton, and then Cllr Roddy Hogarth, and currently Cllr Kevin Maskell, who took over on November 18.
Cllr Maskell leads the minority administration. With the Tories the largest party but not having overall control, it leaves them dependent on the votes of other parties, particularly former colleagues now sitting as the WKI.
Cllr Barnett described the no confidence vote which removed Cllr Hogarth as “outrageous” and part of the reason he left the group.
“Roddy is an absolute gentleman and an outstanding leader, there was no need for it.
“Nationally I have always supported leaving the EU, and then voted Conservative to make sure they deliver on that.”
Despite the Tories’ strong showing in Sevenoaks over many decades, Cllr Barnett argues they are now imperilled.
“I think a lot of Conservative voters are now listening very carefully to what Reform are saying. I can speak for myself as a Conservative of 10 years there’s only so long you can go getting promises and not having them delivered.”
In theory, SDC’s next election is to be in 2027 – but the authority is being abolished along with Kent’s other districts, expected to be reorganised into unitary councils in 2028, so that election is unlikely to happen.
Cllr Barnett said that in general he supports by-elections being called when councillors change parties, but has been informed it would likely cost £15,000 to run one in his ward, and that this does not seem a good use of public money.
He added: “I’m not looking to cause damage to the Conservative colleagues that I’ve worked with – I was elected as a Con and I think it’s about time that the Conservatives and Reform start to work together for the betterment of residents really.”
The political balance on SDC is now as follows:
Conservatives – 23
Liberal Democrats – 14
West Kent Independents – 9
Green Party – 4
Independent – 3
Reform UK – 1
