Farage says racism probe 'doesn't look good'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said an investigation by the party into allegations the leader of a council made racist comments online "doesn't look good".

Reform is looking into the social media activity of Staffordshire County Council leader Ian Cooper, after activist group Hope Not Hate claimed to have found racist posts on an account on X allegedly linked to the councillor.

In a press conference on Thursday, Farage said he had been "slightly shocked" on Wednesday to discover there appeared to be a social media account which had not been declared to the party.

Cooper has been repeatedly approached by the BBC for comment but has not responded.

Cooper was formally selected as leader of the authority in May, after Reform UK secured 49 seats on the council.

Farage said that part of the party's vetting procedure was that "people have to be honest with us and declare what social media accounts they've had."

Whether candidates or elected, "you can deal with problems in their past whatever they might be. Personal, you name it, but you have to know what they are," he said.

He said he made a "snap decision", after finding out on Wednesday afternoon, that "we had to go through due process and all I would say is it doesn't look very good".

Asked by a reporter if Cooper should be suspended, Farage reiterated: "We are going through due process, all I can say is it doesn't look very good.

"We expect our people to be truthful with us and if they're truthful with us, we'll be honourable towards them."

BBC Verify analysed the X account, which is under the name Ian Cooper. It is not possible to definitively confirm it is the council leader as it does not feature a picture or reference to his position, though it is likely due to the followers linked to the account.

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