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Councillor Linden Kemkaran | |
|---|---|
| Leader of Kent County Council | |
| Assumed office May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Gough |
| Councillor for Maidstone South East | |
| Assumed office 1 May 2025 | |
| Leader of Reform UK on Kent County Council | |
| Assumed office May 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Reform UK |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (previously) |
| Alma mater | University of Surrey |
Linden Mary Kemkaran is a British politician from Reform UK. [1] She has been the leader of Kent County Council since May 2025.
Kemkaran was born to a Trinidadian father and an English mother from Waltham Cross. [2] Kemkaran previously worked for BBC News in a number of roles. [3] She attended the University of Surrey. [3] She has written articles for The Spectator. [4]
Before joining Reform UK,she was in the Conservative Party. In the 2019 United Kingdom general election,she was shortlisted for selection in Orpington but was not selected. [5] She stood in Bradford East but came second place behind incumbent Imran Hussain. [6] Following the election,she was investigated by the party for "Islamophobic retweets". [7] [8] During the COVID-19 pandemic,she was involved in the Invicta Summer Academy. [9]
In the 2025 Kent County Council election,was elected in the ward of Maidstone South East. [10] Reform UK won outright control of the council and she was elected leader. [11] After being elected she said “we will simply put the people of Kent at the heart of everything we do”. [12] One key policy is a new cabinet role inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as promoted by Elon Musk. [13] The council will not fly the rainbow flag for Pride Month. [14] She said she saw having a Ukrainian flag in the council chamber as a "distraction". [15] She also said she intends to reduce the impact of illegal migration on residents in Kent. [16]
Kemkaran is a supporter of grammar schools,which still exist throughout Kent. [17] She supports government intervention in the debate over mobile phones in schools,but short of a ban. [18]
Kemkaran is of mixed race descent. [19]