Conservative county councillors have been ordered to keep quiet or resign in the wake of a leadership bid becoming public knowledge.

Members received a furious message from the chief whip, Cllr Dylan Jeffrey, suggesting they get in line or “submit your resignation to the Group, the Party and go off and tend to your garden”.

One opposition group seized on the opportunity to suggest splits appearing in the ruling Tories at County Hall.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) disclosed yesterday how backbencher Cllr Harry Rayner had challenged Conservative Kent County Council leader Roger Gough.

Cllr Rayner made his move at a private meeting of Tory councillors in the cabinet room at County Hall in Maidstone last Friday. Details were leaked to LDRS.

When the leadership challenge was revealed online, Cllr Jeffrey’ sent a WhatsApp message which read: “FFS, our group is supposed to be a safe place.

“This sort of thing makes me really sad and angry. If you have issues, kindly address them to the leadership or myself.

“At the end of the day, we are in it to deliver for the Conservatives locally in our area and across Kent.

“If you don’t agree, then maybe submit your resignation to the Group, the Party and go off and tend to your garden.

“The rest of us are still trying to get on and make a difference.

”Let’s keep any disagreements in Group because otherwise the only winners are the Labour/Green/Liberal coalition (Rant over).”

The Conservatives secured a massive working majority at the 2021 elections with 60 seats, compared to Labour (7), Lib Dems (6), Greens (5) and three others.

One backbencher confided: “The truth is that 60 members out of 81 is huge and I just don't think that we’ve gelled.

“There’s no animosity and generally we all get on fine but there’s a disconnect between the senior leadership and the backbenchers. Some feel their opinions are not being listened to.

“In that respect, there is quite a deep division but there’s no obvious ringleader stirring it up.”

Cllr Jeffrey said he was pointing out to members the rules of confidentiality regarding group meetings.

He added: “Members who breach the rules of meeting confidentiality can be expelled after investigation.

“Members, of course, will have their own opinions and I am not going to stop that but what happens at the group meetings is for the group only.”

Cllr Jeffrey said that he appreciated Cllr Rayner’s public declaration of his intention to stand against Cllr Gough and conceded more may follow as a result.

To defeat Cllr Gough, Cllr Rayner would have to secure 31 votes if all 60 members showed up to the party’s annual meeting on October 5.

Many backbenchers are concerned at the public backlash felt over the proposals to close local tips, such as Tovil (Maidstone) and Faversham to save money.

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Antony Hook, who represents Faversham, said that at a time when £86m in savings must be found to balance the books at KCC, the Tories are not “on the ball”.

He added: “If they spent a lot less time fighting amongst themselves and turned their attention to the very real problems the taxpayers face, they might be more effective.”

Labour Cllr Jackie Meade (Folkestone & Hythe) said: “It’s difficult to see if a new pair of eyes to replace Roger Gough would harm or hinder. I believe the Tories' strategy is wrong. They have constantly renewed contracts with private companies.

“In Labour’s alternative budget, we called for outside contracts to be brought in house so we’re not paying for companies’ profits.”