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Reform-run Kent County Council has sold off a work of public art by one of Britain’s most respected sculptors, Antony Gormley.
Gormley’s ‘Two Stones’ was hosted outside the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone until a few days ago.
The work was one of Gormley’s first commissions. The renowned artist studied and later taught at the Maidstone School of Art.
Green Kent County Councillor and Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, Stuart Jeffery told Byline Times: “They did it quietly. It disappeared sometime last week, and then we found it missing.”
It has been sold back to Antony Gormley, though the sale amount has not been disclosed. The decision by Reform is the the latest in a broader firesale of public art owned by Kent County Council and comes despite Nigel Farage’s flagship local authority raising taxes by almost four per cent in January.
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‘Shameful’ Sale
In a statement, Jeffery added: “Reform are happy to fund their spin doctors from public money, and they seem to have no qualms about selling important public art to balance their books. That says volumes about their values.
“Just imagine if the Angel of the North got flogged off? The Two Stones may have a lower profile but they are important art and are really special to Maidstone with Gormley’s history here. Reform have no insight into governing or leading communities. This sale is shameful.”
Green Maidstone Borough Councillor Stephen Thompson, a cabinet member whose portfolio includes arts, culture, heritage and tourism said he was angry: “Not content with flogging off the county’s art collection, they have now robbed us of a major piece of public art at the library.”
It is just the latest publicly-owned artwork to be sold by the Reform-run Kent County Council to balance their books. In March, over 100 works of art owned by KCC were put up for auction by the Reform council.
Kent Greens said at the time: “While the total financial value of the art is only around £35,000, the historic and social value of the art, most of which depicts Kent, is far higher.”
A spokesperson for the party added: “The art depicts historic scenes from around the county and provides an excellent insight into Kent Life. This art should be treasured and put on display for the public good rather than being sold off to private collectors never to be seen again.” The works eventually sold for under £32,000.
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Council’s Response
A spokesperson from Kent County Council (KCC) told Byline Times: “KCC recognises the cultural significance of Two Stones and Antony Gormley’s connection to Maidstone, therefore the decision to sell Antony Gormley’s Two Stones back to the artist was taken carefully as part of KCC’s ongoing work to manage the significant financial pressures facing Kent. Kent is in a similar position to most other local authorities in having to make difficult financial decisions.
“The private sale enables the council to raise income without increasing costs for residents or reducing frontline services. Returning the works directly to the artist also ensures their ongoing care and preserves the potential for future public exhibition.”
The council spokesperson added: “Responsible leadership requires difficult decisions to ensure the council remains financially sustainable while continuing to support culture in ways that are affordable and appropriate. The sculptures were dispatched at the end of March to be reunited with Antony Gormley.”
Turner Contemporary Threat
In February, Labour MP for East Thanet Polly Billington reacted with fury to a tweet by Reform UK’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development threatening to pull funding from Margate’s Turner Contemporary Gallery in an act of ‘naked retribution’ for holding his council to account.
Polly Billington MP had revealed Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosures showing that Reform UK’s claim they had saved Kent taxpayers £39.5 million by cancelling net zero projects was not supported by council documentation.
Instead of admitting the figures were misleading or false, Cllr David Wimble – who is responsible for funding for the gallery as cabinet member – tweeted, “Perhaps we could pull funding for her lovely turner contemporary?… Polly suck it up.”
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Billington responded at the time: “Threatening acts of naked retribution against the people of Thanet because their MP dared to challenge his council’s lies is the act of a desperate dictator, not a responsible custodian of our county’s treasured cultural institutions.
“The Turner Contemporary is a beloved local institution and a lynchpin of our local economy, and I will never allow Reform UK to trash it as an act of vile spite. Cllr Wimble should immediately withdraw this disgraceful remark and apologise.”
Party Collapse
Reform won a majority on Kent County Council in May 2025, but have since seen their majority chipped away, falling from 57 seats to 47 in less than a year through defections, expulsions and defeats. Seven ex-Reform councillors now form a Restore Britain grouping, the party led by far-right former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
Last Thursday, the Green Party secured a victory in the Cliftonville by-election for Kent County Council, further whittling down Reform’s majority on the council. The by-election was triggered after a Reform councillor was imprisoned. Taylor was given a 12-month prison sentence in February after admitting to behaving in a controlling or coercive way.
Green candidate Rob Yates gained the seat from Reform UK, increasing the Green vote share from 12% to 39%. The huge swing was seen by the party as a ‘Kent version’ of the recent Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election in Greater Manchester, as Reform UK were conclusively beaten into second place while Labour came fourth.
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