Tributes after councillor dies from brain tumour

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he is "deeply saddened" to hear about the death of his party's first Cornwall councillor, Kevin Towill.

Towill died suddenly at the age of 46 after suffering from a brain tumour.

Farage said: "He will always be commended for his bravery and principles. My thoughts are with his friends, family and fellow Reform colleagues at this time."

Cross-party tributes have been paid to Towill, who became the first Reform UK councillor at the unitary authority after defecting from the Conservative Party a year ago.

Towill, who represented the Newquay Porth and Tretherras division and was a former mayor of Newquay, spoke late last year about his return to politics after the discovery of the tumour two years ago and surgery.

He was diagnosed in January 2024 and, following an operation at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, was unable to walk or talk for six months, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Despite his medical challenges, he continued to serve the community from his hospital bed before being able to attend council meetings in person.

He said in late 2025: "My councillor laptop was a lifeline. Being able to keep working helped distract me from everything I was going through."

A by-election will be announced for the Newquay Porth & Tretherras seat in due course.

Councillor Paul Ashton, Reform UK's Cornwall Council group leader, described Towill as a "history maker".

He said: "His quiet passion for serving his community was infectious and was an example to all his colleagues.

"He leaves us with a legacy in how to serve his community, hard work, determination and belief in representing the people of his division."

Councillor Leigh Frost, Liberal Democrat leader of Cornwall Council, described Towill as a "genuinely caring individual who always put the people he represented first".

"Despite ongoing health challenges, he never stopped working for his community and remained committed to his role until the end. He will be greatly missed."

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said she was "deeply saddened" to hear Towill had passed.

She said he had served on the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel for many years, including a period of time as chair.

She said he would be remembered for "his professionalism, fairness and good humour, and he will be much missed by me and my office, as well as all those who knew and worked with him".

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