Reform UK revokes membership of council leader accused of racism | Reform UK
Nigel Farage has revoked the party membership of the leader of the UK Reform Council, who was accused of racially abusing Sadiq Khan, David Lammy and other public figures online.
Staffordshire county council leader Ian Cooper allegedly called the London mayor a “narcissistic Pakistani” and that immigrants were “intent on colonizing the UK, destroying what’s gone before”.
In a post attacking justice secretary Lammy this year, Cooper allegedly wrote: “No foreign national or first-generation immigrant should be allowed to sit in parliament.”
Additionally, British-born lawyer and women’s rights advocate Dr. He was also alleged to have harassed Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, calling her “Dr Shaga Bing-Bong” and telling her that “it was time to return to Nigeria. She would feel more at home there.”
After days of pressure, Reform UK announced on Friday that it had revoked Cooper’s membership in the party. He is also no longer the leader of Staffordshire county council, a local authority responsible for more than a million people.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Following an investigation into the failure to declare social media accounts during the candidate review process, Major Ian Cooper’s membership with Reform UK has been cancelled.”
Cooper, who did not respond to the allegations, was Reform’s Tamworth parliamentary candidate in the 2023 by-election and last year’s general election.
He was elected leader of Staffordshire county council in May as Reform won local government seats across England and is listed as interim leader of the party’s Tamworth branch.
Nine Labor MPs from across the region have called on Cooper to resign following posts first revealed by anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate and shared with the Guardian.
Cooper and Staffordshire county council did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
In posts shared with the Guardian this week, Cooper allegedly told broadcaster Sangita Myska this year that he was British “only in his dreams”, adding: “You are neither ethnically, culturally nor historically British. Your diaspora is not North-West European. All you have is a piece of paper that entitles you to British citizenship.”
In another post a year ago, he said it was a “lie” that diversity was Britain’s strength and claimed immigrants from the “global majority in the south” were “intent on colonizing the UK, destroying what’s gone before”.
He also allegedly said diversity, equity and inclusion plans concealed “oppression” and enabled a situation where “indigenous people are actively removed or excluded and not allowed to complain.”
Two other Reform UK politicians were suspended from office last month for offensive messages. Laura Anne Jones, the only Reform member of the Senedd in the UK, used a racial slur in a debate about the potential for China to use TikTok for spying.
Lancashire councilor Tom Pickup was suspended for calling Keir Starmer a “sycophant” in a WhatsApp group where members allegedly called for “mass Islamic genocide”.
Reform UK said Martin Murray, previously deputy leader of Staffordshire county council, had been appointed as interim leader until the group chose a new permanent leader.
A Staffordshire county council spokesman said: “Reform UK confirmed this evening that they have revoked the party membership of Staffordshire county council leader Ian Cooper.
“Reform UK has announced that Martin Murray will be the interim leader of the council’s Reform UK group. Any proposals to nominate the council’s new leader will need to be agreed at a full council meeting. We will work with management on next steps.”
“Our job will be to continue to serve the residents of Staffordshire and provide uninterrupted service.”
