A Reform UK councillor has been suspended from the party following the emergence of non-recent social media posts that allegedly contain homophobic, Islamophobic, and threatening remarks. Kirklees councillor Dave Rowan was suspended pending an investigation, a Reform UK spokesperson confirmed.
According to posts on X dating from 2019, Rowan allegedly wrote "Hang the Dwarf" in relation to a post about former Commons Speaker John Bercow. In other messages from the same year, before he held his council position, Rowan appeared to express views that have been described as homophobic and Islamophobic.
One alleged X post stated, "As a parent not at school.. I don't beleive gays should have kids full stop.." Another message reportedly read, "Too many muslims mi thinks.. Make sure you take a marker pen Good luck."