The political party Reform UK has taken decisive action by revoking the membership of one of its senior local government figures, Ian Cooper, following an investigation into a series of alleged racist and abusive online posts.
Allegations of racist abuse against public figures
Cooper, who was the leader of Staffordshire County Council, stands accused of posting a litany of offensive remarks on social media. The allegations, first uncovered by the anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate and shared with the Guardian, include calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a "narcissistic Pakistani".
In posts directed at other prominent figures, Cooper allegedly stated that "no foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament", a comment aimed at Justice Secretary David Lammy. He also reportedly abused British-born lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, using a derogatory nickname and suggesting she should "F'd off back to Nigeria".
Further posts seen by the Guardian this week show Cooper telling broadcaster Sangita Myska she was English "only in your dreams". He also allegedly claimed diversity was not Britain's strength and accused migrants from the "global majority south" of being intent on "colonising the UK, destroying all that has gone before".
Party and council leadership stripped
After days of mounting pressure, Reform UK announced on Friday that it had revoked Cooper's party membership. A spokesperson cited "an investigation into the failure to declare social media accounts during the candidate vetting process" as the reason.
This action has had immediate political consequences. Cooper is no longer the leader of Staffordshire County Council, the local authority responsible for over one million residents. The council has appointed Martin Murray, previously the deputy leader, as interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.
Cooper, who has not responded to the allegations or repeated requests for comment, was Reform UK's parliamentary candidate for Tamworth in both a 2023 by-election and the 2024 general election. He was elected council leader in May as Reform made significant gains in local elections and was listed as the interim chair of the party's Tamworth branch.
A pattern of offensive behaviour within Reform UK
This incident is not isolated within Reform UK's ranks. Last month, the party suspended two other politicians over offensive messages.
Laura Anne Jones, the party's sole member of the Welsh Senedd, was suspended for using a racial slur in a discussion about China and TikTok. In Lancashire, councillor Tom Pickup was suspended for derogatory comments about Labour leader Keir Starmer in a WhatsApp group where members allegedly called for "mass Islam genocide".
The allegations against Cooper prompted nine Labour MPs from the Staffordshire region to call for his resignation. The swift action by Reform UK to remove him indicates the serious nature of the claims and the potential damage to the party's reputation.
