Reform councillor suspended over social media posts

A Reform UK councillor has been suspended from the party after non-recent social media posts appeared to show him calling for a former Commons Speaker to be hanged.

In a post on X from 2019, Kirklees councillor Dave Rowan appeared to write "Hang the Dwarf" in relation to a post about John Bercow.

Also in 2019, before he was a councillor, Rowan appeared to post homophobic and Islamophobic statements.

A Reform spokesperson confirmed Rowan had been suspended pending investigation.

On X, Rowan appeared to write: "As a parent not at school.. I don't beleive gays should have kids full stop.."

A separate message said: "Too many muslims mi thinks.. Make sure you take a marker pen Good luck."

A Reform UK spokesman said in a statement: "Cllr Rowan has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation."

Rowan was elected to Kirklees Council in May, winning the Colne Valley West ward from Labour.

Reform became the largest party on Kirklees Council when it won 29 seats at May's local elections.

Two Reform councillors left the party earlier this year when Susan Maxfield moved to stand as an Independent on 3 July and Craig Wiles stepped down entirely from his post due to health issues on 26 June.

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: "We are aware that Cllr Rowan is currently suspended from the Reform UK group but remains a Kirklees councillor."

Rowan has been approached for comment.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.