Sacked, Expelled, or in the Dock: All the Reform UK Councillors Nigel Farage Has Lost in Just Four Months
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his so-called 'DOGE' (Department of Government Efficiency) leader Zia Yusuf hailed the work of Reform's dozen councils in a press conference on Monday.
However, their praise excluded the many Reform councillors who have already had to stand down, or who face investigations for alleged misconduct, since May's local elections.
At least 15 Reform councillors have been suspended, expelled, or have quit since being elected earlier this year, with at least four facing criminal investigations, Byline Times can report.
Some quit within days of being elected, whilst others were caught sharing Hitler memes, spouting racist conspiracy theories, or are now the subject of police probes or prosecutions.
The below is a non-comprehensive list of scandals that have beset Reform UK's tranche of councillors elected since May.
It comes after Byline Times previously revealed that Reform UK have actually loosened their vetting procedures for potential candidates following the election.
UPDATE
The Reform and Conservative Politicians Mingling With Neo-Nazis and Fascists at Asylum Hotel Protests
The recent wave of anti-migrant protests are providing a bridge between right-wing elected politicians and extremist groups
Josiah Mortimer
Full Resignations from Council
1. Desmond Clarke (Nottinghamshire County Council) - resigned from the council just a week after the election in May, stating he was "not in a position to represent the people of Newark West in the way they deserve" while continuing his career in social care
2. Andrew Kilburn (Durham County Council) - resigned from the council nine days after being elected, after not declaring he worked for the council he was elected to (something which is banned)
3. Wayne Titley (Staffordshire County Council) - stood down shortly after being elected in May after Facebook posts emerged calling for a "volley of gun fire" to sink small boats in the Channel
4. John Bailey (Durham County Council) - resigned from council in June citing health reasons
5. Sam Booth (Doncaster Council) - resigned from council in July citing "personal reasons"
6. David Maclean (Isle of Wight Council) - resigned from council in August after missing three meetings of the children's services committee
7. Robert Bloom (North Northamptonshire) - resigned as councillor in August after being accused of shouting the N-word at a black neighbour and her family. He has so far refused to comment.
Defections / Attempted Defections
1. Owen Clatworthy (Bridgend County Borough Council) - five weeks after being elected, Clatworthy quietly contacted Labour's council leader saying he "can't stand Farage," that "Reform is full of big egos," and that he's "a socialist" whose "values are more Labour," before appearing on stage with Nigel Farage four days later in July 2025. He has not denied the claim.
2. Donna Edmunds (Shropshire County Council) - suspended one day after the May election and subsequently quit her membership, having announced her intention to defect to whatever party expelled-Reform MP Rupert Lowe and ex-Deputy Leader Ben Habib set up. She had previously stated her intention to put up a statue of Tommy Robinson in every British town
3. Luke Shingler (Warwickshire County Council) - announced days before the election that he would have to sit as an Independent because he works in a politically-restricted job (understood to be in the Royal Air Force)
4. Michael Ramage (Durham County Council) - was listed as having left the Reform group on the council, but is now back with them, it seems. We've asked him what happened there and will update if we hear back.
holding farage to account #reformUNCOVERED
While most the rest of the media seems to happy to give the handful of Reform MPs undue prominence, Byline Times is committed to tracking the activities o...
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his so-called 'DOGE' (Department of Government Efficiency) leader Zia Yusuf hailed the work of Reform's dozen councils in a press conference on Monday.
However, their praise excluded the many Reform councillors who have already had to stand down, or who face investigations for alleged misconduct, since May's local elections.
At least 15 Reform councillors have been suspended, expelled, or have quit since being elected earlier this year, with at least four facing criminal investigations, Byline Times can report.
Some quit within days of being elected, whilst others were caught sharing Hitler memes, spouting racist conspiracy theories, or are now the subject of police probes or prosecutions.
The below is a non-comprehensive list of scandals that have beset Reform UK's tranche of councillors elected since May.
It comes after Byline Times previously revealed that Reform UK have actually loosened their vetting procedures for potential candidates following the election.
UPDATE
The Reform and Conservative Politicians Mingling With Neo-Nazis and Fascists at Asylum Hotel Protests
The recent wave of anti-migrant protests are providing a bridge between right-wing elected politicians and extremist groups
Josiah Mortimer
Full Resignations from Council
1. Desmond Clarke (Nottinghamshire County Council) - resigned from the council just a week after the election in May, stating he was "not in a position to represent the people of Newark West in the way they deserve" while continuing his career in social care
2. Andrew Kilburn (Durham County Council) - resigned from the council nine days after being elected, after not declaring he worked for the council he was elected to (something which is banned)
3. Wayne Titley (Staffordshire County Council) - stood down shortly after being elected in May after Facebook posts emerged calling for a "volley of gun fire" to sink small boats in the Channel
4. John Bailey (Durham County Council) - resigned from council in June citing health reasons
5. Sam Booth (Doncaster Council) - resigned from council in July citing "personal reasons"
6. David Maclean (Isle of Wight Council) - resigned from council in August after missing three meetings of the children's services committee
7. Robert Bloom (North Northamptonshire) - resigned as councillor in August after being accused of shouting the N-word at a black neighbour and her family. He has so far refused to comment.
Defections / Attempted Defections
1. Owen Clatworthy (Bridgend County Borough Council) - five weeks after being elected, Clatworthy quietly contacted Labour's council leader saying he "can't stand Farage," that "Reform is full of big egos," and that he's "a socialist" whose "values are more Labour," before appearing on stage with Nigel Farage four days later in July 2025. He has not denied the claim.
2. Donna Edmunds (Shropshire County Council) - suspended one day after the May election and subsequently quit her membership, having announced her intention to defect to whatever party expelled-Reform MP Rupert Lowe and ex-Deputy Leader Ben Habib set up. She had previously stated her intention to put up a statue of Tommy Robinson in every British town
3. Luke Shingler (Warwickshire County Council) - announced days before the election that he would have to sit as an Independent because he works in a politically-restricted job (understood to be in the Royal Air Force)
4. Michael Ramage (Durham County Council) - was listed as having left the Reform group on the council, but is now back with them, it seems. We've asked him what happened there and will update if we hear back.
holding farage to account #reformUNCOVERED
While most the rest of the media seems to happy to give the handful of Reform MPs undue prominence, Byline Times is committed to tracking the activities o...
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