The political party Reform UK has taken decisive action by revoking the membership of its Staffordshire county council leader, Ian Cooper, after an investigation into a series of offensive social media posts. The posts allegedly contained racist abuse directed at prominent figures including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Details of the Alleged Abuse
The allegations, first uncovered by the anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate and shared with the Guardian, detail a pattern of abusive online commentary. Cooper, who was Reform's parliamentary candidate for Tamworth in both a 2023 byelection and the 2024 general election, is alleged to have referred to Mayor Sadiq Khan using a derogatory term.
In posts from this year, he is accused of stating that no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be permitted to sit in Parliament, a comment apparently aimed at David Lammy. Further posts allegedly targeted British-born lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu with racially charged insults, suggesting she should "F off back to Nigeria."
Cooper also reportedly told broadcaster Sangita Myska she was English "only in your dreams," and claimed diversity was not Britain's strength. In one post, he allegedly asserted that migrants from the "global majority south" were "intent on colonising the UK, destroying all that has gone before."
Party and Council Fallout
After days of mounting pressure, Reform UK announced on Friday that it had revoked Cooper's party membership. A party spokesperson cited "an investigation into the failure to declare social media accounts during the candidate vetting process" as the reason for the expulsion.
The fallout extended beyond the party. Cooper, who was elected as leader of Staffordshire county council in May 2024, is also no longer the council leader. The local authority, responsible for services for over one million residents, has appointed Martin Murray, the former deputy leader, as interim leader until a permanent successor is chosen.
Nine Labour MPs from the region had previously called for Cooper's resignation over the posts. Both Cooper and Staffordshire county council have not responded to repeated requests for comment from the media.
A Pattern of Offence Within Reform UK
This incident is not isolated within Reform UK. Last month, the party suspended two other politicians over offensive messages. Laura Anne Jones, the party's sole member of the Welsh Senedd, was suspended for using a racial slur in a discussion about China and TikTok.
In a separate case, Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup was suspended for derogatory comments about Labour leader Keir Starmer in a WhatsApp group where members allegedly made appalling genocidal remarks.
The expulsion of a senior council leader marks a significant moment for Nigel Farage's party, which has faced ongoing scrutiny over the conduct of its representatives and its vetting procedures for candidates.
