Reform UK suspends Staffordshire Council Leader after racist post allegations
He's failed to declare social media accounts during his candidate vetting
Reform UK has revoked the party membership of Staffordshire County Council leader Ian Cooper following allegations over racist social media posts.
Campaign group Hope Not Hate claimed that the Perrycrofts councillor had posted dozens of ‘racist and bigoted’ comments on YouTube and X, including offensive remarks aimed at Black and Asian public figures.
Reform UK has now announced that Cllr Cooper has been kicked out of the party following an investigation into his failure to declare social media accounts during his candidate vetting. Deputy council leader Martin Murray has now taken over as interim leader of the Reform UK group.
Cllr Cooper was appointed council leader on a four-year term following Reform UK’s landslide victory in the local elections in May. Despite being replaced as leader of the Reform UK group, he will remain council leader unless he steps down, resigns as an elected member or is removed by a vote of the full council.
Under council rules, if the council leader resigns, deputy leader Martin Murray would take over until a new leader is appointed. The next full council meeting will take place next Thursday.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Following an investigation into the failure to declare social media accounts during the candidate vetting process, Cllr Ian Cooper has had his membership of Reform UK revoked.”
At the time of writing, Cllr Cooper is still listed as council leader on the Staffordshire County Council website. Cllr Cooper has been approached for comment.