Newly elected Essex councillor resigns amid claims he celebrated rape of Sikh women in the Black Country

A newly elected Reform UK councillor who was accused of making a hateful social media post regarding Oldbury and Walsall rape victims has resigned from his position days after he was voted in.

The Daily Mirror reported that Stuart Prior, who was elected to Essex County Council in the Rayleigh West division last week, had previously responded to a tweet about the rapes of two women in Oldbury and Walsall and said: “Good.” He has denied making the remark.

In October MP Zarah Sultana referred to the two attacks on X and said: “These horrifying attacks show how racism and misogyny feed each other — fuelled by the rise of fascism and hate.”

Mr Prior, 54, is alleged to have posted in response: "Good. Reap it." When that allegation was put to him by Daily Mirror reporters he said: “No, this isn’t me.”

A woman in her 20s was attacked and raped in Oldbury in September. The following month a man and a woman from Sandwell were arrested and subsequently bailed. Two other people were arrested last month.

In October a woman was attacked in her home in Walsall by John Ashby, who was sentenced last month to life in prison for religiously aggravated rape, intentional strangulation, assault and robbery.

This week a Reform UK source told the Daily Mirror: “Stuart Prior informed us that he was resigning from his elected position for personal reasons.

“We have also revoked his Reform UK membership.”

An Essex County Council spokesperson confirmed it had been told Mr Prior had resigned from his position.

The spokesperson said: “We have had confirmation that the successful candidate for Rayleigh West has resigned from their position as a county councillor.

“We also understand they have resigned from their role as a councillor for Rochford District Council.

“Officers from both authorities will work together to coordinate by-elections, with arrangements communicated to residents as soon as possible.”