Reform suspends councillor for being 'aggressive'

Reform UK has suspended its only councillor in Walsall, after he acted "aggressively towards a female volunteer", the party has said.

Graham Eardley has represented the Pelsall ward since winning the seat in a by-election in September.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: "Graham Eardley has been suspended from Reform UK with immediate effect, pending investigation."

Eardley told the BBC he had joined Restore Britain, a party set up by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, though he said he would likely contest his seat as an independent candidate during May's upcoming election.

Eardley disputed the party's version of events and said the incident in question had happened at a visit by the party's deputy leader Richard Tice.

"She came over to me and started shouting at me and I shouted back saying that she was a disgrace and a disgrace to the party," he said.

All out elections will be held in Walsall in May, with Reform targeting gains from the Conservative-run authority.

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