Reform UK council group chief Ryan Coogan has been arrested on suspicion of making false statements on nomination papers. Coogan, the party's group leader on Huntingdonshire District Council since May, was released on bail and said he will help police with their inquiries.
Arrest and bail details
Cambridgeshire Police said: "A 42-year-old man from Waterbeach was arrested on 24 September on suspicion of making false statements in nomination papers. He has since been released on bail to return to Milton Police Station on 22 December."
The force previously provided a statement to Cambridgeshire Live in May confirming that an investigation had been launched. They said at the time: "We are investigating an allegation of false statements on a candidate nomination paper and the investigation is on-going. This relates to Ryan Coogan and May's HDC elections."
Coogan's response
The BBC reported the nature of the alleged false statements has not been made public. But Coogan told the broadcaster he had "always been and will continue to be happy to help police with their inquiries".
He said he "cannot comment on this [investigation] as I have still not been informed what the actual detail of the alleged issue or crime or other supposedly is".
A spokeswoman for Huntingdonshire District Council told The Mirror: "As this is a ongoing police investigation, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further at this stage."
Background and legal context
Coogan, who represents the Ramsey ward on the council, previously ran in a mayoral contest for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. He came second in the 2025 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayoral election, which was won by ex-Tory MP Paul Bristow by a healthy margin.
The Electoral Commission's website makes clear it is a criminal offence to knowingly make a false statement on nomination papers. The penalty for such an offence in England and Wales is either an unlimited fine, or up to one year's imprisonment, the watchdog adds.
