Reform council removes trans books from children's section at libraries
Paul Webb, Reform's cabinet member who oversees libraries, said he had made the decision after a 'distressed' member of the public approached him with concerns about trans ideology books in the children's section of a library.
Linden Kemkaran, Reform's leader of Kent county council, hailed the decision as a 'victory for common sense'.
It is unknown how many books are to be removed or how the council will classify transgender-related books.
The authority runs 99 community libraries and five mobile library vans.
Reform won the council from the Conservatives, who had controlled it since 1997, as part of a sweep of victories at the local elections in May.
In a video posted on X, Mr Webb said: 'I was recently contacted by a concerned member of the public who found trans-ideological material in the children's section of one of our libraries. I have looked into this and this was the case.
'I've today issued an instruction for them all to be removed from the children's section of any of our libraries.
'They do not belong in the children's sections of our libraries. Our children do not need to be told they were born in the wrong bodies. So, from today (July 2) this will stop.'
According to a post by Ms Kemkaran on X, the books that appear to be on the removal list include: The Autistic Trans Guide to Life, written by two leading autistic trans activists; How to be a Girl: A Mother's Memoir of Raising her Transgender Daughter and This Arab is Queer, a collection of memoir and personal stories by Arab LGBTQ+ writers.
She added: 'Telling children they're in the 'wrong body' is wrong and simply unacceptable.'
The decision was criticised by Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, who said: 'It is bizarre that the leader of the council is making announcements on social media, rather than to the council.'
Mr Hook told BBC News he had written to the head of Kent library services to ask for an update on what books were to be removed.
The move comes as Reform's newly elected council leaders continue their push for the removal of all flags that are not the Union flag or that of the local area.
Last month, Monica Fogarty, the chief executive of Warwickshire county council, defied an order from the council's newly elected leader to take down a Pride flag.
Zia Yusuf, the head of Reform's department of government efficiency, claimed the refusal showed that 'a coup d'etat is under way in Britain'.
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