A Reform-run council has sparked controversy after banning transgender-related books from the children’s sections of its libraries — a move hailed by leaders as “a victory for common sense in Kent.”
Linden Kemkaran, leader of Kent County Council, announced the decision on social media, declaring: “Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.” She confirmed the books would be removed immediately, reports The Times.
Kemkaran posted an image of The Autistic Trans Guide to Life, which appeared in a Pride Month display at Herne Bay Library. Some local residents pointed out online that the display was located in the welcome area of the library, not the children’s section.
The order to remove the books came from Reform councillor Paul Webb. In a video statement, Webb said: “I was contacted by a concerned member of the public who found trans ideological material and books in the children’s section of one of our libraries. I’ve today issued an instruction for all of it to be removed… Our children do not need to be told they were born in the wrong bodies. From today, this will stop.”
Reform UK took control of Kent County Council in May’s local elections. Since then, Kemkaran has refused to fly the rainbow flag for Pride and previously branded the Ukrainian flag in the council chamber a “distraction.” The council has also launched a Musk-inspired “Doge” cost-cutting campaign, reportedly backed by former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf.
Kent Country Council have been contacted for comment.
Antony Hook, Liberal Democrat opposition leader on the council, called the move “bizarre,” criticising Reform for announcing it on social media rather than at a council meeting. He has requested a list of titles earmarked for removal from Kent’s head of libraries.
Labour MP for Chatham & Aylesford, Tristan Osborne, condemned the decision as “unedifying baiting of the LGBT community.”
Defending the action, Webb told the BBC: “In our society, children are quite rightly and properly protected from items and actions that could cause them harm — for example alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. My fellow Reform members and I believe that our young people should be protected from exposure to potentially harmful ideologies and beliefs such as those held by the trans lobbyists.”
He added: “As far as impact assessments are concerned, I would have thought that question should have been asked before these books were placed in the children’s section to begin with.”
Kent County Council oversees 99 community libraries and operates five mobile vans. It is not yet confirmed whether the policy will extend to neighbouring Medway Council, with which it shares certain services.