A senior Reform UK councillor has been suspended from Nigel Farage's party following the discovery of extremist content in a WhatsApp group, including a post calling for a 'mass Islam genocide'.
Investigation Launched into Extremist Messages
Tom Pickup, one of Reform's lead councillors in Lancashire, is now facing a formal investigation by the party. The suspension occurred on Wednesday 19 November 2025 after The Guardian exposed the disturbing messages shared within a group believed to have been created by a right-wing activist.
Among the most alarming posts was one where a member suggested Sir Keir Starmer 'needs a f***ing bullet', with another participant labelling the Prime Minister a 'D***tator'. Mr Pickup himself reportedly responded by calling Sir Keir a 'd***taker'.
'Jokey Self' Defence and Community Backlash
Further messages saw Mr Pickup allegedly describe a government minister as a 'Ukrainian boy penetrator' and express agreement with 'mass deportations'. In one significant revelation, he posted: 'Everyone in Reform is a lot more hardline on immigration than is typically stated publicly, to get a majority government we have to be tactical.'
When confronted by The Guardian, Mr Pickup claimed that '99 per cent of what occurs in groups, I don't see'. He described his involvement as being his 'usual jokey self' and suggested his comments had been 'twisted out of context'.
Regarding the call for a 'mass Islam genocide', Mr Pickup stated: 'Of course not. I've done a lot of community engagement work with the Islamic community. It's something that I would have condemned and probably reported but I don't know if they [the messages] are genuine. I've not seen them.' He confirmed he has since left the controversial group.
Political Fallout and Calls for Resignation
The revelations have prompted strong reactions from political opponents. Labour councillor Samara Barnes at Lancashire County Council has called for Mr Pickup's resignation and reported him to the authority's standards watchdog.
Ms Barnes emphasised the seriousness of the situation, stating: 'We are at a time when we're living in a tinderbox and if people are suggesting we should be having an Islam genocide, this is domestic terrorism.'
She added: 'We've seen what can happen when people become radicalised, people become emboldened to do really nasty things. This is beyond an apology or some training. This is more serious and Reform UK needs to really take a stand.'
Reform UK confirmed to The Independent that Mr Pickup had been suspended pending investigation, marking another controversy for Nigel Farage's party as it faces scrutiny over the conduct of its representatives.
