A Kent councillor accused of threatening to kill his wife and subjecting her to years of coercive control will face trial at crown court.
Daniel Taylor, who was suspended by Reform UK following his arrest on June 1, now sits as an independent on Kent County Council after having the party whip withdrawn.
The 35-year-old – who represents the Cliftonville ward in Thanet – appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court today charged with three offences, all of which he denies.
These include making threats to kill his wife on June 1, and a separate charge of sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message to her on the same day.
It was also alleged that between January 1, 2016, and June 1, 2025, he repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive.
Taylor remains on bail with a GPS tag to enforce a location restriction and will next appear for a case management hearing in Margate on November 13.
His trial will be held on May 22, 2026, at the same court, and will include witness evidence from his wife.
Taylor, of Connaught Road, Margate, spoke only to confirm his identity and reaffirm his not guilty pleas.
He was one of 57 candidates from Nigel Farage’s party to win a seat in the local elections on May 1.
KCC leader Linden Kemkaran (Reform) told group leaders in a letter the decision was made “due to a very sensitive set of circumstances”.
At the time of his suspension, calls for a by-election in the ward were being made.
Posting on Facebook in April – when he was standing as a candidate for Reform – Taylor described himself as a “local businessman and devoted family man, who has great concerns regarding Cliftonville’s future”.
