THE leader of Staffordshire County Council has been dropped by Reform UK.
The party launched an investigation into social media accounts linked to Cllr Ian Cooper.
But a spokesperson for the county council has now confirmed he has been replaced at the helm of the Reform UK group on an interim basis by his deputy Cllr Martin Murray.
They said:
“Reform UK has confirmed this evening that they have revoked the party membership of Ian Cooper, the leader of Staffordshire County Council.
“Reform UK has announced that Martin Murray will be the interim leader of the council’s Reform UK group.
“Any proposals to nominate a new leader of the council will need to be agreed at a meeting of Full Council. We will work with the administration on the next steps.
“Our job will be to continue serving the residents of Staffordshire and delivering services without disruption.”
Cllr Cooper had previously faced calls to resign from nine Labour MPs after an investigation into his social media use was posted online.
Cllr Philip White, leader of the Conservative opposition group, said:
“It was inevitable that Ian Cooper would have to go, but Reform have done nothing to address the bigotry that appears to be embedded in their Staffordshire branch.
“Revoking Ian Cooper’s party membership on a technicality and allowing Peter Mason to remain as a Reform county councillor and cabinet member despite his racist, misogynistic, homophobic and anti-police social media posts shows that Reform still wants to sweep this under the carpet.
“Nigel Farage needs to instigate an urgent review of his entire Staffordshire operation.
“Ian Cooper should now resign as a councillor.”
