Former Reform Kent Councillor Faces Trial Over Wife Threats

Daniel Taylor, a 35-year-old councillor for Cliftonville in Kent, has been suspended from the Reform UK party and is now sitting as an independent after being charged with threatening to kill his wife, sending an offensive message to her, and engaging in controlling or coercive behavior over several years. Taylor denies all charges, which relate to incidents from January 1, 2016, to July 2, 2025, with the trial date set for May 22, 2026, at Margate Magistrates' Court. He appeared in court wearing a blue shirt and grey gilet and confirmed his identity and address but did not comment on the charges. Following his arrest in June, the Reform UK party removed the whip from him, and there have been calls for a by-election in his ward. Taylor remains on bail with a GPS tag enforcing location restrictions and will have a case management hearing in November before the trial. The case has drawn criticism, including remarks on the timing of a women's safety event hosted by Kent County Council shortly after the charges surfaced.