Kent County Council boss says taxpayers shouldn’t fund language lessons as she suggests migrants use DUOLINGO instead – amid chaos as Farage’s ‘efficiency’ chief dramatically quits
A REFORM UK council leader has sparked fury by threatening to SCRAP English language classes for migrants – telling them to use free apps like Duolingo instead as she declared the lessons are “not good value for money for the taxpayer!”
Linden Kemkaran, the newly-elected leader of Kent County Council, dropped the bombshell as she vowed to copy Elon Musk’s cost-cutting ‘DOGE’ model – just hours before the dramatic resignation of Reform’s efficiency chief Zia Yusuf threw the party into chaos.
The Maidstone South East councillor revealed she had ordered an urgent review into whether taxpayer-funded English classes across Kent were “value for money” – suggesting immigrants should learn the language themselves using smartphone apps rather than expecting handouts.
In an extraordinary intervention that will delight Reform’s base but horrify critics, Kemkaran declared: “We can absolutely be Reformers cancelling English classes for people who don’t speak the lingo, if it’s costing KCC a lot of money.
‘Could We Look Into This?’
The Reform leader revealed the bombshell plan came after discussions with her cabinet member for education and skills, Beverley Fordham, who discovered the scale of taxpayer funding for the classes.
She has found out that Kent county council is paying for classes in adult education centres up and down the county that are teaching English as a second language,” Kemkaran told The Telegraph.
“Now I’m saying to my cabinet member, ‘Could we look into this?'”
The controversial proposal would see Kent become the first council in Britain to potentially axe English language support for migrants – a move critics warn could leave thousands unable to integrate or find work.
Duolingo Solution
In comments that will enrage equality campaigners, Kemkaran suggested migrants could simply download free language apps instead of expecting taxpayer-funded lessons.
The council leader appeared to suggest that smartphone apps like Duolingo – which offers basic language learning through games and exercises – could replace professional English teaching for those trying to build new lives in Britain.
Under current regulations, local authorities receive funding from the Department of Education specifically for adult education programmes, including English as a Second Language (ESOL) provision.
Reform’s DOGE Revolution
The shock announcement came as Reform UK councils claimed they were launching their own version of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash “wasteful” spending.
Kent County Council had been at the centre of Reform’s “DOGE UK” movement, with former party chairman Zia Yusuf appearing at County Hall in Maidstone earlier this week alongside Kemkaran and tech entrepreneur Nathaniel Fried.
But in a dramatic twist last night, both Yusuf and Fried sensationally quit the party – with Fried confirming he would “leave with” Yusuf, posting on social media: “I have absolute confidence that the Reform Doge will succeed without me.
‘Chaos’ Warning
The leader of the Green Group at Kent County Council, Councillor Rich Lehmann, described the situation as “chaos” following Yusuf’s shock departure.
“This bizarre and unexpected move feels like it could go one of two ways,” he told KentOnline, warning of instability in the Reform-led administration.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Kemkaran’s controversial plans, with her efficiency guru abandoning ship just as she prepares to potentially axe vital integration services.
The Bigger Picture
The threat to English classes comes against a backdrop of soaring migration concerns and Reform UK’s meteoric rise in the polls. Recent figures show:
- 36,816 asylum-seekers arrived on small boats last year – up 25% from 2023
- Net migration hit 906,000 in the year to June 2023 – a record high
- Councils spent £141 million since 2022 on asylum seekers, including PlayStations and DJ lessons
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe recently branded such spending a “disgrace,” declaring: “No computer games, driving lessons, phones, laptops or whatever else. They should receive a one-way plane ticket.”
Labour’s New Crackdown
The controversy comes as even Labour has been forced to toughen its stance on immigration. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced:
- Migrants must wait 10 years instead of 5 for citizenship
- Higher English language requirements for ALL immigration routes
- Adult dependents must demonstrate basic English understanding
- Skills threshold raised to graduate level for work visas
Home Secretary’s new rules specifically emphasize the importance of English proficiency to help migrants “integrate into their local community, find employment and reduce the risk of exploitation.
Reform’s Rising Power
Reform UK’s stunning success in May’s local elections saw them:
- Win 677 council seats (39% of those contested)
- Gain control of 10 councils including Kent
- Become the largest party in 4 additional councils
- Win two mayoralties
The party has positioned itself as the voice of taxpayers angry at “wasteful” spending on migrants while public services crumble.
Critics Hit Back
Education campaigners warned that axing English classes would be counterproductive and potentially illegal.
One education source said: “How are migrants supposed to contribute to society, get jobs, and integrate if they can’t speak English? This is shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Critics also pointed out that the funding for ESOL classes comes from central government specifically for adult education and cannot simply be redirected elsewhere.
Legal Complications
While Kent County Council could theoretically stop funding English as a Foreign Language provision and direct the money to other adult education programs, they cannot repurpose the central government funding for anything other than adult skills programmes.
Asked about this complication, Kemkaran remained defiant: “We can absolutely be Reformers cancelling English classes for people who don’t speak the lingo, if it’s costing KCC a lot of money.”
The France Factor
The row comes as France has blamed Brexit for the Channel migrant surge, with Emmanuel Macron’s MPs taking an unprecedented swipe at Labour’s handling of the crisis.
Turkish restaurants have also been in the spotlight after one had its licence stripped following an immigration probe that found illegal workers being paid with “food and housing” instead of wages.
What Happens Next?
With Reform’s efficiency chief gone and the party in turmoil, questions remain about whether Kemkaran can push through her controversial plans.
The council leader must navigate:
- Legal restrictions on how education funding can be used
- Potential backlash from migrant communities
- Opposition from other parties on the council
- The chaos within Reform UK itself
The Bottom Line
In the space of 24 hours, Reform UK has gone from triumphantly launching its cost-cutting revolution to complete chaos – with its efficiency chief quitting and its flagship council threatening to pull the rug from under migrants trying to learn English.
Linden Kemkaran’s suggestion that migrants should use Duolingo instead of proper English classes perfectly encapsulates Reform’s approach: headline-grabbing populism that sounds good to angry voters but falls apart under scrutiny.
As one council insider put it: “You can’t run a country – or even a county – on slogans and smartphone apps. Real governance requires real solutions, not just telling migrants to download Duolingo and get on with it.”
Whether Kent’s migrants will soon be learning English from an owl mascot on their phones rather than qualified teachers remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: Reform UK’s first taste of real power is proving far more chaotic than even their critics predicted.
Image: Nigel Farage (32333990943)
Author: Gage Skidmore
Source: Wikimedia Commons
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
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