London, December 09, 2025
Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council and a member of Reform UK, has been expelled from the party following an internal investigation into racist and bigoted comments he posted on social media. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from local politicians and campaign groups demanding accountability.
Allegations and Evidence of Racism
Campaign group Hope Not Hate revealed that Cooper used multiple online accounts to post dozens of racist remarks targeting prominent public figures, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, broadcaster Sangita Myska, and lawyer Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu. Among the inflammatory content were statements asserting that no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed to serve as a Member of Parliament, along with derogatory descriptions of ethnic minorities and migrants framed as threats to the UK.
Political and Party Reactions
The exposure of Cooper’s social media activity sparked immediate calls from several Labour MPs representing Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for his resignation. They characterized his comments as incompatible with the responsibilities of public office and unacceptable for anyone in a leadership position within local government.
Reform UK responded by conducting an urgent internal investigation. The party expunged Cooper’s membership after discovering he failed to disclose multiple social media accounts during their vetting process. Reform UK emphasized that the combination of non-disclosure and the nature of the racist posts led to the revocation of his membership.
Cooper’s Response
Ian Cooper acknowledged the party’s decision but refrained from commenting in detail on the allegations of racism. In a brief statement, he said he “can walk away today without consequences,” without addressing the specifics of the social media claims or the broader implications.
Broader Context and Implications
This incident underscores growing concerns about social media conduct among elected officials and the effectiveness of vetting and accountability mechanisms within political parties. It has drawn significant controversy both locally and nationally, highlighting the challenges parties face in monitoring candidates’ past conduct and the public’s intolerance for racist behavior from public representatives.
As political entities increasingly scrutinize online behavior, cases like Cooper’s illustrate the heightened expectations for public figures to maintain integrity across all platforms. The fallout from this situation may influence how parties approach candidate screening and how politicians manage their digital presence moving forward.