Councillor Adam Kent threatens libel action after Conservative suspension

Councillor Adam Kent, the deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council, has instructed libel lawyers to act for him after his suspension by the Conservatives over a coalition row. He said Kevin Hollinrake’s remarks were false, defamatory and wholly inaccurate, and added that the matter is now with his lawyers.

Kevin Hollinrake remarks

Kent said he had been suspended pending an investigation and had been asked by the party not to comment on it. He also said the party had stressed that the suspension does not imply any assumption of wrongdoing and is merely a neutral and precautionary step.

He linked the dispute to social media comments posted by Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman. Kent said: “What he has said about me is false, defamatory and wholly inaccurate - and the matter is now with my lawyers.”

Worcestershire coalition row

The suspension followed Kent’s move to form a coalition with the local Green group. His plan also involved Conservative councillors teaming up with the Liberal Democrats and independents to topple the authority’s Reform leadership at Worcestershire County Council.

Conservative Campaign Headquarters said it did not approve of the deal. Kent said a letter from the chairman of the Conservative Party had been sent to the entire Conservative membership and posted on social media, and that it had been disseminated and shared widely.

Alan Amos and Jo Monk

The row sits inside a broader chain of events that began several weeks ago, when Reform councillor Alan Amos started the process of toppling his own group leader. Kent said the new power-sharing coalition at the county council was only hatched because the old Reform leadership toppled leader Jo Monk.

A spokesman for Conservative Campaign Headquarters said they were unable to comment. Kent’s suspension and legal threat now place the dispute on a path that leaves no obvious way back inside the Conservative Party for him.