A Reform UK council leader has had his membership of the party revoked following an investigation into posts on social media.
Councillor Ian Cooper who was elected to the position in May, has been kicked out of Nigel Farage’s party following claims he posted racist remarks on X.
In the posts, Councillor Cooper allegedly called London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, a “narcissistic Pakistani” and said migrants were “intent on colonising the UK, destroying all that has gone before”.
He also allegedly attacked black, British-born activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, saying “Dr Shaga Bing-Bong…Time she f****d off back to Nigeria. She’d feel more at home there.”
A spokesman from Reform UK 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.”
Councillor Martin Murray has been appointed as the interim leader of the Reform UK group on Staffordshire County Council.
Mr Murray, the Councillor for the Cannock Town ward, will remain in the post until the group elects a new leader.
GB News has approached Mr Cooper for a comment.
Nine Labour MPs from Stoke and Staffordshire had called for his resignation.
They are Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter), Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase), Dave Robertson, (Lichfield), Adam Jogee, (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Leigh Ingham (Stafford), Gareth Snell (Stoke-on-Trent Central), David Williams, (Stoke-on-Trent North), Allison Gardner, (Stoke-on-Trent South) and Sarah Edwards (Tamworth.)
In an open letter, they said: “Ian Cooper has, by sharing this kind of material, exposed his far-right and racist opinions.
“He should now resign the Leadership and his seat. Staffordshire deserves better than this outright bigotry.”
Nigel Farage spoke about Mr Cooper at yesterday’s press conference
|
PASpeaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Farage said: “I discovered this late yesterday afternoon and I was slightly shocked that there appeared to be a social media account that had not been declared to us.
“As part of vetting, people have to be honest with us and declare what social media account they have. With candidates, you can deal with problems in their past, but you have to know what they are.
“So I made a snap decision to go through due process. All I would say is it doesn’t look very good.
“We expect our people to be truthful with us, and if they’re truthful with us we’ll be honourable towards them.”
The next full council meeting is due to take place on Thursday, December 11 at the Council Chambers in Stafford.
It will will be the first opportunity for councillors to vote on a new leader of the authority.