Reform councillor suspended following racism row

A Reform UK councillor accused of posting racist comments on social media has been suspended by the party.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said the suspension was linked to a failure by Dean to disclose a social media account during the party's vetting process.

They added an investigation would follow. Dean told the BBC on Thursday she would not be commenting on the matter.

The claims against Dean came shortly after the new leader of the council Martin Murray pledged to "come down hard" on any member engaging in racism.

Murray is the third leader of the controlling Reform UK group on the authority since December. Two predecessors have both been embroiled in rows in which it was alleged they were responsible for racist social media content.

Murray also said Dean's suspension centred on an undisclosed social media account during vetting, and referred to comments therein as "unacceptable".

Hope Not Hate on Thursday accused Dean of using social media to call for mosques to be closed and comment that she was getting tired of Muslims.

The campaign group also accused Dean of posting the message: "Indigenous Britain is slipping further into the abyss. We will soon reach the point of no return."

The accusations against her follow a string of recent controversies involving Reform UK councillors in Staffordshire.

With regard to the latest issues, a spokesperson for Reform UK said: "Upon review, it was found that Councillor Dean had failed to declare her social media account, operating under a different name, during our vetting process.

"Councillor Dean has had her membership of Reform UK suspended pending investigation."

Murray said: "I can confirm Councillor Dean has had the whip suspended because of unacceptable comments made on an anonymous account which was not disclosed during vetting."

The X account about which Hope Not Hate made its allegations features the user handle L Dean, although the account bears a different title.

Staffordshire County Council said it was aware of the complaints against Dean, who represents the May Bank and Wolstanton ward.

A spokesperson for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, where Dean is a representative for the Knutton ward, said the authority would "speak to the councillor concerned and look into the matter accordingly".