Overview
- Reform UK confirmed an urgent internal investigation into Ian Cooper over his non-disclosure of social media accounts allegedly used to post racist and xenophobic remarks.
- Hope Not Hate linked accounts such as @iancooper9000 and @cooper_ian57035 to comments targeting Sadiq Khan, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu and Sangita Myska, and to claims that migrants are intent on colonising the UK.
- Nigel Farage said the party is following due process and acknowledged the situation "doesn't look very good."
- Nine Labour MPs from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire publicly called for Cooper to step down as council leader and resign his seat.
- Staffordshire County Council said any complaints will be handled under its Standards Complaints process and Code of Conduct, and Cooper has not responded to the allegations in the coverage.