Welcome from the chairman
Dear Visitors,
Welcome to our new website.
Our local membership has increased by 300% in the past year. It is now over 1,000 strong.
This is remarkable and the surge reflects the trust that residents of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas place in Reform UK's common-sense policies and commitment to real change.
We are excited to announce that Reform UK will be contesting all 13 seats in the upcoming local elections on 7 May 2026. To kick off our campaign, we are hosting a series of hustings in Paddock Wood on 19 January when you can meet and hear from our candidates This is democracy in action and is your chance to hold us to account.
In February, we are delighted to host a special Speakers event featuring Matt Goodwin, Linden Kemkaran, and Scott Walker. These insightful voices will be discussing the issues that matter most to us all.
We are also providing a unique educational opportunity to local schools by offering complimentary tickets for their politics students. This will allow young people to attend our events and gain valuable insight into the workings of Kent County Council and the future direction of Britain.
At the heart of Reform UK lies a steadfast commitment to sensible, practical policies. We prioritise protecting our precious environment through realistic measures, rather than the ideological madness of Net Zero targets that burden families and businesses without delivering meaningful results. We stand firmly in support of our local farming community, recognising the vital role our farmers play in food security, rural economies, and stewardship of the countryside.
Our core beliefs are simple yet profound: Family, Community, and Country.
We will tackle rising crime head-on with tougher policing and a focus on prevention. And above all, we will always put British people first — ensuring that decisions at every level prioritise the needs, safety, and prosperity of our citizens.
Best regards,
Rob Grindley
Chairman, Reform UK Tunbridge Wells Branch
The Great Tommy Sleep Out
I am proud to announce that I have signed up to take part in the Great Tommy Sleep Out in support of the Royal British Legion. As Chair of our local Reform UK branch here in Tunbridge Wells, this is a cause that is deeply personal to me.
On my committed night in March, I will be sleeping outdoors in either Rusthall or Tunbridge Wells. While this will undoubtedly be uncomfortable, I am under no illusion that it will be anything like the daily reality faced by too many of our veterans. Here in this idyllic part of Kent, I expect to be relatively safe. But I cannot stop thinking about former servicemen and women sleeping rough in cities such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool, or Glasgow—facing cold nights, uncertainty, and very real risks to their wellbeing.
The Great Tommy Sleep Out is about more than just one night outside. It is about raising funds, raising awareness, and standing in solidarity with those who once stood for us. I am delighted that some of my fellow Reform candidates will be joining me in this effort, helping to raise both vital funds and the profile of the Royal British Legion and the incredible work it does to support veterans and their families.
For me, this is not just a political statement. It is personal.
I come from a military background. My father served in the Coldstream Guards for 25 years. He dedicated a quarter of a century of his life to serving our country with pride, discipline, and loyalty. When I think about veterans sleeping rough on our streets, I think about him. I think about the sacrifices made not just by those who wear the uniform, but by their families as well.
It fills me with shame that in modern Britain, men and women who have served our nation can find themselves abandoned and without proper support. Our government—and I include the previous Conservative administration in this—has failed too many of them. Warm words on Remembrance Sunday are not enough. Poppy appeals are not enough. Respect must be shown not only in ceremony, but in action.
Our veterans deserve dignity. They deserve proper housing. They deserve mental health support. They deserve a system that does not leave them navigating bureaucracy when they are at their most vulnerable.
By taking part in the Great Tommy Sleep Out, I hope in some small way to highlight their plight and to encourage others in Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall to get involved—whether by donating, volunteering, or simply spreading the word. Every pound raised helps the Royal British Legion continue its vital work providing advice, support, and financial assistance to those who have served.
This is about honour. It is about gratitude. And it is about ensuring that those who defended our freedoms are never forgotten when they need us most.
If you are able, please consider supporting this effort. Together, we can stand up for those who once stood up for us.
Rob Grindley
The Royal Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons are for Sale!
Our 250+ acres of ancient woodland, heathland, sandstone outcrops like Toad Rock and Wellington Rocks, and open green spaces—are a huge part of what makes living in Rusthall feel special.
As someone who is a resident of Rusthall and often walks the Commons, rain or shine, summer flowers or winter frost I recently went to a community meeting at Rusthall Church Centre. The place was packed with local people asking questions and showing real concern about the future.
What a lot of us didn’t realise until recently is that the Commons have always been privately owned, not by the council or anyone public. Since 2008, they’ve belonged to Targetfollow (Pantiles) Limited, part of a commercial property group based in Norwich. Late last year, they put the Commons on the market.
This is a rare chance—maybe the only one in our lifetimes—to bring them into community ownership for the first time.
Who are we?
