A Reform UK councillor in Kent has escaped formal sanctions after an investigation into a message where he said he wanted to punch a colleague "right in the jaw".
Complaint dismissed over WhatsApp threat
Kent County Councillor Peter Osborne was the subject of a formal complaint signed by leaders of the council's opposition groups. The complaint centred on a message he sent in a WhatsApp group for dozens of councillors in the autumn of last year.
In the message, Mr Osborne wrote: "I'm hoping this mole is a bloke so I can punch him right in the jaw." This followed the leak of a video showing the council's Reform UK leader, Linden Kemkaran, shouting and swearing at fellow party members.
The council has now informed the leaders of the Liberal Democrat, Green, Labour, Conservative, and Independent Reform groups that their joint complaint has been rejected and no further action will be taken.
Opposition expresses 'disappointment' at decision
Reform UK labelled the complaint as "vexatious", while opposition figures have voiced strong criticism of the council's ruling. The initial complaint argued that Mr Osborne had breached the members' code of conduct by committing an act of harassment or bullying, which includes intimidating behaviour.
They stated: "It appears to us self-evidently likely that other KCC members might have apprehended a risk of violence from Mr Osborne or would have been distressed to read this message. There is a clear risk that a message like this will create a hostile or intimidating environment."
However, The Press Association understands that KCC did not believe the remark was serious enough to warrant action and did not consider Mr Osborne to have been acting in his official capacity as a councillor when he sent the WhatsApp message.
Hypocrisy claims and previous expulsions
The decision has sparked accusations of hypocrisy from former Reform members. This stems from the fact that seven councillors were allegedly expelled from the Reform UK group at KCC for other WhatsApp communications following the same leaked video.
Bill Barrett, now leader of the Independent Reformers Group, said: "I find it very worrying that the case against Cllr Osborne has been dismissed. Apparently a councillor can say anything threatening or insulting they like on internal political WhatsApp groups and there is no sanction."
He added: "I also find it incredibly hypocritical of Reform UK at KCC who expelled seven members of their own party for WhatsApp Messages and the like that weren't threatening or with physical threats attached."
In November 2025, KentOnline reported that Mr Osborne said his message was sent in "frustration" rather than "malice" and admitted there was "never an excuse" for violence.
Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition at KCC, said: "Many people will be disappointed with the decision. I disagree with the reasons given and in my view it is unacceptable for a councillor to tell their colleagues that they want to punch one of them."
A spokesperson for Kent County Council declined to comment on the individual case, stating: "Matters relating to any individual Member Code of Conduct complaints are not discussed with the public." Reform UK also declined to provide further comment.
