Reform UK kick Staffordshire County Council leader out of party amid racism allegation
Staffordshire County Council said it will work with Reform UK on "the next steps" after council leader Ian Cooper had his membership of the party revoked.
The county council leader has been the subject of an investigation into his social media activity after it was alleged he made racist comments online.
Activist group Hope Not Hate claimed to have found racist posts on an account on X allegedly linked to Tamworth - Perrycrofts councillor Cooper, including one about Foreign Secretary David Lammy which read: "No foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament."
Reform UK confirmed on Friday evening his membership was being revoked and that Martin Murray would be the interim leader of the council’s Reform UK group.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Following an investigation into the failure to declare social media accounts during the candidate vetting process, Councillor Ian Cooper has had his membership of Reform UK revoked.”
A short statement from Staffordshire County Council said: "The party has announced that Martin Murray will be the interim leader of the council’s Reform UK group.
"Any proposals to nominate a new leader of the council will need to be agreed at a meeting of full council.
"We will work with the administration on the next steps.
“Our job will be to continue serving the residents of Staffordshire and delivering services without disruption.”
