The Conservative Party suspended Adam Kent, the Conservative Group Leader on Worcestershire County Council, on May 15, 2026 [1].
The move highlights growing instability within local government as traditional parties form unconventional alliances to remove Reform UK from power.
Kent arranged a deal with the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats to remove Reform UK's minority control of the council [1]. The Conservative Party condemned the arrangement, saying the deal was a breach of party rules and an attempt to undermine the minority administration [1].
Reform UK had gained control of the council in 2025 [2]. The new alliance of Conservatives, Greens, and Liberal Democrats sought to end that control through this strategic coalition [1].
Following the shift in power, Matt Jenkins took a leadership role. Jenkins said, "I can make it work" [3].
The suspension of Kent comes as the party leadership seeks to maintain a strict boundary against the coalition's tactics. The party's decision to penalize Kent underscores the internal friction regarding how to handle the rise of Reform UK in local councils across England [1].
“The Conservative Party suspended Adam Kent... on May 15, 2026”
This suspension reflects a broader tension within the Conservative Party as it navigates the electoral threat of Reform UK. While some local leaders are willing to form 'rainbow coalitions' with left-leaning parties like the Greens to block Reform, the central party leadership views such alliances as a violation of core ideological boundaries and party discipline.
