Council boss calls for Reform UK to expel colleague

The Reform UK leader of Leicestershire County Council has urged party bosses to remove the whip from one of his colleagues.

In a letter seen by the BBC, Dan Harrison criticised his former deputy council leader Joseph Boam over a social media post in which he stated "I stand with ICE" hours after federal immigration agents fatally shot nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month.

Harrison wrote to Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice urging him to "kick Joseph out of the party".

Boam, who represents Whitwick on the authority, declined to comment on the letter when contacted by the BBC.

Asked about Harrison's letter, a spokesperson for Reform UK said: "As standard, we do not provide a running commentary on any disciplinary matters."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said Harrison sent all county council staff an email in response to Boam's post, which was also shared by Michael Squires, cabinet member for health and public health, who said ICE officers were doing "heroic work saving the United States of America".

"I am aware that some staff will have been upset by the posts, and I wanted to address that directly," Harrison wrote.

"These messages were posted without my knowledge or blessing.

"It is not appropriate for county councillors to get involved in or comment publicly on what is a serious matter for the US government."

Harrison has not responded to a BBC request for a comment but later confirmed he had written to Tice about Boam in a message shared by county council Conservative opposition leader Deborah Taylor.

"Specifically on Mr Boam, I sent a letter to deputy leader of Reform UK Richard Tice MP highlighting my concerns and again making my position very clear," he wrote.

"It is up to them how they wish to respond to that letter and decide how they wish to proceed."

Harrison told Taylor that Squires had reflected on his comments and apologised, adding he "deeply regrets" the remarks and would undergo further training on the council's members code of conduct and using social media.

Squires said he did not wish to comment when contacted by the BBC.

In his letter to Tice, Harrison said there 79 complaints had been made about Reform UK councillors since the party took control at County Hall in May, of which 40 were lodged against Boam.

"What has been Joseph's reaction?" Harrison added. "He blamed it all on the woke left-wing, fake news or political smears.

"I was appalled at his lack of ownership of the problems he created."

Harrison said the ICE post was "the final straw", prompting him to contact Tice.

He added: "I know other party members will be writing to you to urge you to kick Joseph out of the party.

"I have done all I can locally, even banning him from attending group meetings.

"Unfortunately I do not have the powers as council leader to take any further action."

Boam told the LDRS: "I've not heard anything from anyone credible or a source. It was just what I'd seen online.

"I rang HQ, and I am still in the party, so there's nothing to worry about. [I have] always got on with Dan and have known him a while, so I don't know where it's all come from.

"I don't know what to say, really, but as far as I'm aware, I'm still in Reform, and I'm thought of quite highly by [Reform] HQ, so I don't think there's anything to worry about."

A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

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