Kent County Councillor Peter Osborne will face no sanctions for saying he would punch a colleague “right in the jaw” during a heated WhatsApp conversation, after a complaint from opposition leaders was rejected by Kent County Council (KCC).
The complaint was lodged following a video leak showing KCC leader Linden Kemkaran shouting and swearing at fellow Reform members. In response, Osborne wrote in a group chat with dozens of councillors: “I’m hoping this mole is a bloke so I can punch him right in the jaw.”
Opposition leaders from the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour, Conservatives, and Independent Reformers argued that the message breached the council’s code of conduct, which prohibits harassment, bullying, and intimidating behaviour. The complaint 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.”
Despite this, the council concluded that the remark was not serious enough to warrant action and determined that Osborne was not acting in his official capacity as a councillor when sending the message. KCC also noted that the incident was already in the public domain, making further investigation unlikely to produce additional outcomes.
Osborne had previously told digital outlet KentOnline that his comment was made in “frustration” rather than “malice” and admitted that “there was never an excuse” for violence.
Liberal Democrat leader Antony Hook criticised the decision, saying: “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.”
Other former Reform councillors echoed concerns over what they viewed as inconsistent handling. Bill Barrett, 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. 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.”
A KCC spokesperson declined to comment further on the complaint, stating: “Matters relating to any individual Member Code of Conduct complaints are not discussed with the public.”
