A Reform UK councillor has resigned just a week after being elected, following revelations that he operates a gay porn account on OnlyFans. Stephen Mousdell, who won the Haydock ward in St Helens with 1,331 votes in last week's local elections, announced his decision to step down on Thursday morning.
Resignation Statement
Mousdell stated that the intense media scrutiny and pressure from individuals at the town hall and other parties led to his resignation. He expressed that the situation has taken a toll on his mental health, causing depression and anxiety, and severely damaged his relationship with his partner, Kevin Lee. “It is with sincere regret I am resigning as reform councillor for Haydock Ward,” he wrote. “I haven’t been in the right mental state as my depression and anxiety has been awful due to this and my relationship with Kev has been severely damaged and it has to be my number one priority.”
OnlyFans Activity
An investigation by LBC uncovered that Mousdell, under the alias “LachlanTaylorUK,” has been posting adult content on OnlyFans. His profile describes him as a “gay pornstar and DJ” and includes explicit details about his physical attributes and preferences. The account also promotes his presence on Bluesky and JustForFans, an LGBTQ+ kink platform. Mousdell had previously stated on Facebook that he was “transparent and not ashamed” of his adult content creation, noting that he abides by all relevant laws.
Party Response
Reform UK had initially defended Mousdell, stating that his “lifestyle choices may not be to everyone’s taste” but that he had not broken the law. A party spokesperson noted that voters were aware of his activities before the election and still chose him. The spokesperson highlighted that Mousdell had received the St Helens Mayor’s Good Citizen Award for his community service. However, Mousdell ultimately decided to resign to prioritize his relationship and mental well-being.
Mousdell expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve but lamented that his profession did not align with the standards expected of a councillor in St Helens. He emphasized his love for his partner, Kevin Lee, who has been his “rock” throughout the ordeal. “I can’t put him through any more pain than I already have as it is completely not fair,” Mousdell said.
