Reform UK has suspended one of its Kent county councillors, sparking calls for a by-election.

Daniel Taylor, who represents the Cliftonville ward in Thanet, is now sitting as an independent.

He was one of 57 candidates from Nigel Farage’s party to win a seat in the local elections on May 1.

A Reform UK spokesman confirmed the group whip had been withdrawn from Cllr Taylor “with immediate effect”.

KCC leader Linden Kemkaran (Reform) has told group leaders in a letter that the decision was made “due to a very sensitive set of circumstances”.

She and Cllr Taylor have been approached for comment.

Following the move, Kent Greens are already calling for a by-election in the ward.

Tonbridge councillor Mark Hood said: “Cliftonville residents didn’t vote for Mr Taylor; they voted for the Reform candidate.

“As he is no longer their representative and there is still almost four years left of his term, the right thing to do would be to resign and trigger a by-election.”

Lib Dem councillor Alex Ricketts (Lib), who represents Canterbury North, said: “Residents in the area Mr Taylor was elected to represent will expect an explanation of why he has been removed by his own party.”

Posting on Facebook in April, when a candidate for Reform, Cllr Taylor described himself as a “local businessman and devoted family man, who has great concerns regarding Cliftonville’s future”.

He added: “Cliftonville deserves real action by a representative who will step up, be proactive, deal with issues as they arise and fulfil their pledge given during the local election. That representative is ME!!!”

Reform secured a majority at KCC little more than a month ago, ousting the Conservatives.

The party’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) squad arrived at County Hall last week, including the party’s chairman, Zia Yusuf, businessman Aaron Banks, and tech entrepreneur Nathaniel Fried.

A few days later, Yusuf and Fried quit the party, before changing their minds and rejoining at the weekend.

The council’s leadership has come under fire for failing to set up committees for the newly elected authority.

Labour’s Mike Tapp – the MP for Dover and Deal – has also written to Cllr Kemkaran to raise what he called “increasing concern” over how the authority is being run.

But Cllr Kemkaran issued a fierce defence of her record to date, rejecting the MP’s concerns and accusing him of lacking ideas and credibility.