Mystery surrounds councillor’s Reform departure in Staffordshire following racism row

Reform UK has declined to say why a county councillor, who was at the centre of a racism row, is no longer in the party – just weeks after he was elected group leader. Chris Large was set to become Staffordshire County Council’s new leader last month after Reform UK councillors chose him to lead their group.

But the Brewood councillor quit as both group leader and cabinet member for finance just days later, saying his decision had been due to a ‘family bereavement’. And now he is no longer even a member of the Reform group – he is currently sitting as an independent councillor.

Cllr Large had previously come under fire after allegedly racist activity was seen on a TikTok account bearing his name. At the time Cllr Large denied responsibility for the activity, saying a number of people had access to the account, which has since been deleted.

Neither Cllr Large nor Reform UK have responded to requests to explain his departure from the Reform group.

Cllr Large is the second Reform group leader at the county council to leave the party less than a year after its landslide election victory in Staffordshire. Former council leader Ian Cooper was thrown out of the party in December after Reform found that he had not declared social media accounts prior to the election.

This followed an article by Hope Not Hate that claimed Cllr Cooper had posted dozens of racist comment on X and YouTube, including offensive remarks aimed at Black and Asian public figures. Cllr Cooper resigned as council leader a few days after having his Reform membership revoked.

Martin Murray, Reform councillor for Cannock Town, has been serving as acting council leader since then.