ADAM Kent has been suspended by the Conservative party just hours after becoming deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council.
Cllr Kent’s Conservatives struck a power-sharing deal with the Lib Dems, Greens and independents that has not gone down well at Conservative HQ.
The coalition successfully removed Reform UK from power after a year in minority control of the council but Cllr Kent has now suffered the wrath of Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake.
A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “The chairman was very clear on a number of occasions that the Conservative Party was totally opposed to the proposed arrangement at Worcestershire County Council.
“The Conservative group leader did not make our opposition clear to his fellow Worcestershire councillors and has been suspended pending investigation. CCHQ has made clear to our councillors that this arrangement must not go ahead.
“Worcestershire Council has been in chaos since Reform took over.
“They have hiked council tax by nine percent and Nigel Farage now says he wish Reform had never bothered trying to run it.”
Matt Jenkins, leader of the Green and Independent Alliance, was named leader of the council earlier today, with Cllr Kent as his deputy.
Fellow Conservatives Karen May, Marcus Hart and Adrian Hardman were also appointed to Cllr Jenkins’ cabinet, but this statement from Conservative head office casts doubt on the future of the coalition already.
Former council leader Jo Monk of Reform resigned before the meeting and will now serve as an independent councillor.
Reform’s attempt to appoint Alan Amos as leader was rejected.
Cllr Amos has already said: “This will be a cabinet of chaos that will not last.”
Cllr Kent said he is unable to comment at this stage.
