The Conservatives at Kent County Council (KCC) are playing down talk of a number of its members being approached to defect to Reform UK.

One senior Tory dismissed as “tittle tattle” reports councillors have been invited to join Nigel Farage’s fledgling movement.

Reform UK has publicly stated its intention to fight for seats at the KCC election next May.

It is not known if any Conservatives have taken up the offer.

A member of the ruling Tory group - which has 59 of the 81 seats at County Hall - said: “I was shown a message sent to one member asking them to come over to Reform and I know of another who has been approached.

“Neither, to my knowledge, has any intention of taking it up. It makes sense for Reform to do it, not just for the publicity but because we reckon we are going to do badly in May and it could probably be as much to do with Reform as it is to do with our national unpopularity.”

Sir Paul Carter, a former leader of KCC, would not confirm or deny if he had been approached by Reform UK.

But he added: “I wouldn’t join Reform UK. But they’ll be getting up to all sorts in the coming months, I have no doubt of that.

“Nigel Farage has stated publicly that he’s going big in the county council elections next year. He lives in Kent. Two and two makes four.

“But what I would say is that as every week goes by (Labour Prime Minister) Sir Keir Starmer is making himself more and more unpopular and we might well be in a much better position next May than some people think.”

Reform UK had a strong showing at the general election, picking up five seats at Westminster with nearly 15% of the vote. The Liberal Democrats polled just 12.6% but won 72 seats under the first past the post system.

Experienced Conservative campaign manager and county councillor Andrew Kennedy said something had appeared on a WhatsApp chat and people said they had heard things “but it was all second hand”.

He added: “All had heard of stories…but I would take it with a pinch of salt. I discounted it as tittle tattle.”

Cllr Kennedy said he would have thought he would be top of the Reform UK list because of his leading position on Vote Leave.

He added: “I would say ‘no’ if I was approached.”

A spokesman for Reform UK said: “I have no idea but good on them. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

“I am sure they (Tory councillors) are happy in their ditch rather than on our hill. I am sure it is probably someone who is doing it themselves but it is not an official position from here.”

Thanet Independent councillor at KCC Trevor Shonk said he was approached to join Reform UK in March when he quit the Conservatives at County Hall.

He said: “It’s nice to be wanted but I’m happy with the Thanet Independents.”