UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Staffordshire council’s acting Reform UK leader, Martin Murray, calls for a move forward following former leader Ian Cooper’s exit over social media issues.
As reported by Andy Giddings of the BBC, the acting Reform UK leader of Staffordshire Council stepped in after his predecessor’s exit, saying it was time to “move on.”
Ian Cooper, a Reform UK councillor, was expelled following accusations of racist social media posts, prompting him to resign as council leader and sit as an independent. Two fellow Reform councillors have apologized for their social media activity.
What did Martin Murray say about Ian Cooper’s social media and party reputation?
Commenting on the matter, Martin Murray refused to comment on Ian Cooper’s social media posts and said he would leave the decision to resign as councillor to him.
He said, “Reform UK head office have acted upon very, very expediently,” adding the party’s image in Staffordshire was “totally intact.”
After May’s local elections, Mr Cooper became leader of Staffordshire County Council as his party ousted the Conservatives. Among posts sparking complaints, one flagged by Hope Not Hate referenced then-foreign secretary David Lammy, stating, “No foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed to sit in Parliament.”
Nigel Farage’s Reform Party announced an internal investigation on 3 December, and two days later, Mr Cooper’s party membership was revoked.
Mr Murray has stepped in as interim leader of Staffordshire Council, with a permanent leader to be chosen next year.
He said,
“Due process has taken place and we move on from there.”
When asked whether Cooper’s removal was over post content or undisclosed social media use, Mr Murray responded,
“The official line and reasoning for them to revoke his membership was for the non-disclosure of an account.”
Commenting on the posts on social media, he said,
“I cannot condemn something I have not personally seen. If these are therefore deemed under due process to be racist I absolutely will condemn them.”
Mr Murray stated that Mr Cooper, now an independent, alone decides whether to step down as a Tamworth councillor.
He added,
“I would not influence someone’s own personal choice, what they wish to do, no matter who they are or where they are, it is their choice to do what they deem fit themselves.”
Which two Reform councillors apologised over social media comments?
Chris Large, Reform councillor, rejected any involvement in racist TikTok posts, and the party confirmed no disciplinary action will be taken.
Martin Murray confirmed his colleague had apologised for account security lapses, while Peter Mason also issued an apology for comments made online.
Two weeks after the May elections, Reform councillor Wayne Titley resigned following criticism over a Facebook post calling for action against small boats approaching Britain.
What did MPs and councillors say about Ian Cooper and Reform UK’s response?
Referring to the response about comments about Ian Cooper, Julia Buckley, the Labour MP for Shrewsbury, said,
“Frankly the allegations are appalling and Reform’s response is just woefully inadequate. There was no accountability or responsibility, no calling out of racism.”
Green Party councillor Sam Jones urged unity, saying there is no room for racism.
Birmingham Conservative leader Robert Alden urged a full public investigation into vetting failures, saying the probe should be transparent.
Commenting on the social media actions, Dave Robertson, Labour MP, called the posts “outright bigotry” and accused Mr Cooper of exposing his racist, far-right opinions.
Sarah Edwards, the Labour MP for Tamworth, stated that the posts showed
“deeply disturbing white supremacist views.”
She added,
“These far-right, racist ideas have no place in our society and certainly not in public office. As an elected representative of our county, Ian Cooper has a fundamental duty to uphold the values of equality, integrity and respect for all. By amplifying such toxic content, he has failed in that duty.”
How many councillors defected to Reform UK in 2025?
In 2025, around 66 councillors defected to Reform UK from other parties, the vast majority of whom were formerly Conservative councillors.
Nigel Farage welcomed 29 new defectors in March 2025, including some from the Liberal Democrats, which brought the party’s total number of council seats to over 100 at the time.
Specific councillors who defected in 2025 included the Conservative group leader on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Daniel Jellyman, and an ex-Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Paul Miller.
Three former Conservative MPs (Jonathan Gullis, Chris Green, and Lia Nici) also defected to Reform UK in December 2025, along with a Conservative life peer, Malcolm Offord.