Two newly elected Reform UK councillors have been criticised after appearing to pose next to a sign making light of the notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile. Images shared on social media seem to show Wigan councillors Lilian Rogers and Gemma Painter standing next to a man holding a sign stating: 'I Would Rather Vote For Jimmy Savile Than Labour'.
Campaigning Incident
The photo was reportedly taken while Cllr Rogers and Cllr Painter were out campaigning for Reform UK parliamentary candidate Rob Kenyon, who is hoping to win the Makerfield byelection later this week. The Liverpool ECHO has seen screenshots of a Facebook post by Cllr Painter, elected representative for Ince ward in Wigan, documenting her campaigning work. The post was published on Tuesday (June 15) and is accompanied by four photographs, two of which appear to show Cllrs Painter and Rogers posing with a man holding the sign referencing Jimmy Savile.
Social Media Backlash
After the post was published, it was widely criticised after being shared across several social media platforms, generating thousands of comments. At the time of writing, Cllr Painter's official Facebook page is no longer available to view and seems to have been deleted or deactivated.
Amidst the furore, Reform MP Lee Anderson posted a photograph to his X account, showing the same picture but with the Savile reference removed and replaced with an 'I'm voting Rob Kenyon' campaign poster. Mr Anderson intimated that the sign with the Savile reference was 'fake'. The photo Mr Anderson shared appeared to be AI-generated, with close-up analysis highlighting discrepancies between the official Reform logo and the one on the sign. Mr Anderson's post was later deleted.
Multiple Images Circulated
There are multiple pictures which have been shared of the Savile image from different accounts, showing Reform activists posing with it outside residents' houses, as well as photos of the sign in other locations and attached to a car. The ECHO approached Reform UK representatives for comment.
Pattern of Controversy
The two Wigan councillors are the latest Reform UK representatives to be mired in controversy in the North West region. Since May 12, the Liverpool ECHO has reported on several councillors elected under the Reform UK banner, including the case of Cllr Jay Cooper, who resigned from the party four days after being elected to serve the Bootle West ward in Sefton. Cllr Cooper had previously apologised for past comments in which he called the Holocaust 'a hoax' and 'propaganda'.
Reform leader Nigel Farage was questioned over the vetting of new councillors, specifically in reference to Cooper. The ECHO asked Reform's Clacton MP about the vetting of new councillors as he visited St Helens on election results day. He told us at the time: 'When you are putting up 5,000 people, do some slip through the net because they don't tell you their social media handles or tell you the truth? Yes. Do we welcome people with these ideas? No we absolutely do not.'
Further Resignations
A week after Cllr Cooper's resignation from Reform, St Helens Reform UK councillor Stephen Mousdell resigned his ward seat, just a day after the ECHO reported on his separate life appearing in porn videos online. Following Mr Mousdell's resignation, a by-election was triggered for the Haydock ward, where voting will take place on June 25.
Ten days after Mr Mousdell's resignation, the ECHO also reported on newly elected St Helens Reform UK councillor Emma Beck, after confirming she had been convicted of assault, just four months before the May 7 local elections.
