Nigel Farage calls for Devolution referendum during visit to Kent
The leader of Reform UK visited Kent County Council in Maidstone
Last updated 8th Jul 2025
Nigel Farage has called for a referendum on local government reform.
On Monday morning, Mr Farage arrived to overcast drizzle at Kent County Council (KCC) in Maidstone, to be greeted by expectant councillors from the Reform-led authority.
It was his first time visiting county hall since Reform's victory in May local elections and while on the stairs, he told their 57 councillors "how we behave matters" and says he "can't apologise" for the 2024 election vetting process because he was not involved in it.
It's after Reform MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock James McMurdock resigned the party whip amid allegations that he took out government loans during the Covid pandemic for businesses with no employees.
Mr Farage was keen to distance himself from the absence of Reform candidate vetting processes for the 2024 general election, and said he "can't apologise" for it.
He said: "I came in, I inherited this situation where hundreds of candidates who stood in the last general election had not gone through a vetting process.
"I said on July 5, the day after the election last year, that we would now professionalise.
"We put 1,630 candidates into the field on May 1, more than any other party with very, very few rows or arguments - so the vetting process worked for this year, I can't apologise for what happened before."
Farage then went onto to have a meeting with selected councillors, discussing a variety of issues, in particular Devolution which he described as an ' insane proposal'.
Under plans by the Labour government, Kent County Council is currently in line to be abolished over the next few years, being replaced by a handful of smaller councils.
It means local government's will have more power to make decisions - taking control away from Westminster.
However, the leader of Reform UK, believes Kent would lose it's identity, he said: "No one has been asked! No one knows about this.
"If we were stop and ask 100 people in Maidstone, I bet no one knows these plans are out there.
"The Labour government says they will consult but I know how this works, it will be typed up on the back of a website somewhere and two man and their dog will see it.
"What we are going to do over the summer is launch a campaign on this, and if we can show sufficient strength for how I now feel about this then we will hold a referendum on it."