Reform UK has removed the party membership of Ian Cooper, the former leader of Staffordshire County Council, after allegations emerged that he directed racist abuse at senior public figures including London mayor Sadiq Khan, Justice Secretary David Lammy, and campaigner Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.
Cooper is accused of posting multiple racist and inflammatory remarks on social media. The online comments reportedly targeted migrants, high-profile politicians, and public figures from ethnic minority backgrounds. Among the claims are that he used derogatory language about Sadiq Khan and suggested migrants aimed to undermine Britain.
He is also alleged to have attacked David Lammy earlier this year and criticised his eligibility to sit in Parliament. Further accusations include offensive comments directed at Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, containing language widely condemned as racist and xenophobic.
Following growing pressure, Reform UK confirmed that Cooper’s membership had been revoked after internal reviews highlighted concerns over undisclosed social media accounts during the vetting process. His removal also ends his position as leader of Staffordshire County Council, a major authority serving more than one million residents.
Cooper had previously stood as a Reform UK parliamentary candidate in Tamworth, both in the 2023 by-election and in the 2024 general election. He had taken leadership of Staffordshire County Council in May, during a strong local showing for Reform UK. He also held the role of interim chair of the party’s Tamworth branch.
Local Labour MPs called for his resignation after the allegations became public, following an investigation by the anti-fascist organisation Hope Not Hate which shared the posts with national media. Both Cooper and the council have not provided responses despite repeated requests for comment.
Additional posts shared this week further intensified the controversy. Cooper allegedly told broadcaster Sangita Myska that she was not English in any meaningful sense, arguing that ethnicity and cultural heritage determined belonging rather than citizenship. In another message from the previous year, he reportedly described diversity as a lie and claimed migrants from the global south intended to replace Britain’s existing population. Other posts suggested that diversity and inclusion policies were a disguise for oppression and that native communities were being silenced.
The incident follows other disciplinary actions within Reform UK. Two party figures were recently suspended for posting offensive remarks, including Laura Anne Jones in the Senedd and Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup.
Reform UK has now appointed Martin Murray, formerly the deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council, as the interim head of the Reform UK group on the council. Any permanent leadership decision will be taken at a full council meeting.
A statement from Staffordshire County Council confirmed the change and emphasised that essential services would continue without disruption, with a focus on maintaining stability for residents across the county.
