Kent County Council won’t punish Reform UK councillor Peter Osborne for threatening to punch a colleague in a private chat, calling the remark inappropriate but not serious enough for action.

Kent County Council will not take action against Reform UK councillor Peter Osborne after he threatened to punch a colleague “right in the jaw” in a private WhatsApp group following the leak of a heated video involving the council’s leader. The comment, made in frustration, prompted a joint complaint from opposition leaders who said it created a hostile environment, but the council ruled it was not serious enough to warrant sanctions, noting Osborne was not acting in an official capacity and the incident was already public. Osborne acknowledged the remark was inappropriate, citing frustration, not malice. Critics, including former Reform members, called the decision inconsistent, pointing to past expulsions for less severe messages. The council declined to comment further on individual conduct matters.