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.