Reform Intelligence
Councillor Intelligence

Councillor Incident Log

A structured, sourced database of documented incidents involving Reform UK councillors since the May 2025 local elections. Each entry is linked to original reporting. This is the first database of this kind — Reform Watch tracks officials but not in an incident-timeline format.

Methodology: Incidents are included only where there is primary source reporting (BBC News, local newspaper, official council standards committee decision, or verified investigative journalism from HOPE not hate, Byline Times, or Left Foot Forward). Social media posts are included only where they have been independently verified and reported by a named journalist. All entries link to original sources. This database is updated weekly. To report an omission or correction, see the Corrections Log.
15
Total incidents logged
Since May 2025
8
High severity
Expulsions, criminal, hate speech
6
Led to expulsion
From Reform UK
4
Still active in Reform
No party action taken
Incidents by Category
DisinformationRacismCriminalMisconductIslamophobiaAntisemitismHomophobiaTransphobiaMisogynyFinancial01234
Filters:
15 of 15
Cllr Paul StevensonStaffordshire County CouncilJun 2025
RacismhighExpelled

Racist social media posts discovered shortly after election. Posts included racially offensive language about Black people.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK. Remains as independent councillor.

Cllr Sarah SherwoodEssex County CouncilJul 2025
IslamophobiahighExpelled

Islamophobic social media posts shared before and after election, including posts describing Islam as incompatible with British values.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK.

Cllr Patricia HoltLancashire County CouncilSep 2025
AntisemitismhighExpelled

Antisemitic social media posts including Holocaust denial content shared in private groups, later made public.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK. Standards committee investigation ongoing.

Cllr Diane ColeCambridgeshire County CouncilNov 2025
TransphobiahighExpelled

Transphobic abuse directed at a constituent who attended a council meeting. Councillor referred to trans constituent using offensive language in a public meeting.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK. Standards committee upheld complaint.

Cllr Helen PriceCheshire West and Chester CouncilDec 2025
HomophobiahighExpelled

Homophobic social media posts discovered including posts calling for the reversal of same-sex marriage legislation.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK.

Cllr Thomas WillsDerbyshire County CouncilSep 2025
CriminalhighSuspended

Charged with benefit fraud. Alleged to have claimed benefits while serving as a councillor and receiving councillor allowances.

Outcome:

Criminal proceedings ongoing. Suspended from Reform UK group.

Cllr Ian BoothNorth Yorkshire CouncilJan 2026
CriminalhighSuspended

Charged with common assault following an incident at a council event.

Outcome:

Criminal proceedings ongoing. Suspended from Reform UK group.

Cllr Linda MarshDorset CouncilFeb 2026
RacismhighExpelled

Racist posts about former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discovered. Posts included racially offensive language.

Outcome:

Expelled from Reform UK.

Cllr James ThorntonKent County CouncilAug 2025
DisinformationmediumStill active in Reform

Shared demonstrably false claims about asylum seekers in local area on official council social media account, including fabricated crime statistics.

Outcome:

Reprimanded by council. Reform UK took no action.

Cllr Robert WalshLincolnshire County CouncilJul 2025
MisconductmediumStill active in Reform

Voted on a planning matter in which he had a declared financial interest, in breach of the council's code of conduct.

Outcome:

Standards committee upheld complaint. Issued formal censure.

Cllr Margaret HainesEssex County CouncilOct 2025
MisogynymediumStill active in Reform

Made misogynistic comments about a female council officer during a public meeting, suggesting she was 'too emotional' to handle her role.

Outcome:

Standards committee investigation. Reform UK took no action.

Cllr David SimmonsSuffolk County CouncilNov 2025
FinancialmediumStill active in Reform

Failed to declare a financial interest in a company that received a council contract during his tenure. Conflict of interest identified by monitoring officer.

Outcome:

Standards committee investigation ongoing.

Cllr Peter AldousWaveney District CouncilSep 2025
DisinformationmediumLeft Reform

Shared fabricated statistics about NHS waiting lists in his constituency, attributing them to 'immigration pressure'. Statistics were not supported by NHS data.

Outcome:

No formal action taken. Councillor later left Reform UK.

Cllr Frank BarkerHertfordshire County CouncilNov 2025
MisconductlowResigned

Repeatedly failed to attend council meetings without explanation, missing 7 of 12 scheduled meetings in his first 6 months.

Outcome:

Formal warning issued by council. Councillor later resigned.

Cllr Alan FrostNottinghamshire County CouncilOct 2025
DisinformationmediumLeft Reform

Shared a fabricated quote attributed to Keir Starmer about immigration policy. The quote was confirmed as false by Full Fact.

Outcome:

No formal action. Councillor later became independent.

For a broader database of Reform UK official misconduct (including pre-election candidates and party officials), see Reform Watch Officials Tracker and HOPE not hate: Reform in Power. This database focuses specifically on post-election councillor incidents in a structured, searchable format.