Overview
- Jay Leslie Cooper said his Holocaust comments were wrong and resigned from Reform UK, pledging to serve as an independent councillor.
- He was elected to Sefton Council’s Bootle West ward with 705 votes on a Reform UK ticket.
- In a Facebook statement, he said the Holocaust was real, apologized for causing hurt, and said he takes full responsibility.
- Nigel Farage had already said such views are not welcome in the party, highlighting a breakdown in screening of thousands of local candidates.
- His switch cuts Reform’s Sefton group to four, with Labour holding 36 seats and the Liberal Democrats 17, plus five independents and three Greens.