Reform councillor suspended before council meeting

A Reform UK councillor in Walsall has been suspended - days after being elected -following accusations he made unfounded allegations against the party's group leader.

Robin Perry, who was told about the decision hours before the first meeting of full council on Monday, said while he agreed with Reform UK's national policies, "locally, it's like Mussolini's government".

Perry was later accused of making a series of "unfounded and unfair" allegations against group leader Elaine Williams. He said he would appeal against the decision, and would carry on as an independent councillor.

The Reform group confirmed the reason for his suspension but did not comment further to BBC News.

Perry, who was elected to the Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft ward on 11 May, claimed Williams had discriminated against him on the grounds of being dyslexic, during a row about the position of mayor.

On Monday night, councillor Alan Fleming was appointed mayor of Walsall, following a vote of full council.

During the vote, every Reform member except Perry voted in favour of Fleming.

Perry instead voted for councillor Khizar Hussain, deputy leader of the Walsall Community Independents, who was also nominated.

On continuing as an independent, Perry said: "I feel sorry for residents because they voted for me for Reform but Reform isn't the party I thought it was.

"Nationally, I agree with the policies. Locally, it's like Mussolini's government."

Williams has also been approached for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.