Reform council leader in legal threat over Facebook videos

The Reform leader of Worcestershire County Council has sent the chairman of Worcester Labour Party a legal threat - demanding he stops mentioning her name in public.

Worcester city councillor Ed Kimberley has also been told he faces action if he publishes or shares any more "videos, posts or commentary" about Reform UK.

It follows a series of videos posted online by Kimberley in which he denounced right wing extremism and called Reform "the nasty party".

Jo Monk, Reform's county council leader, said his videos have led to her being harassed by members of the public.

In one of the clips, which have attracted thousands of views online, Kimberley criticised Monk for saying councillors who suffer from "long-term ill-health" should resign, rather than rack up a poor attendance record at council meetings.

Kimberley suggested she was aiming that remark at disabled people. In another video he accused Reform county councillors of "enabling and supporting" a Facebook group which encourages people to erect English flags on lampposts.

Kimberley told the BBC he has no intention of removing any videos.

"One of the things that I care most passionately about in politics is fighting against hate - Reform keep pushing the boundaries of free speech," he said.

He added: "I am only ever commenting on the things they are saying in public and the way they are behaving.

"I don't intend to step back from doing this - it's important in politics that we have robust debate."

In an exchange seen by the BBC, Monk issued Kimberley with a 'cease and desist' letter - meaning she believes he is committing a civil wrong.

She also asks for the "immediate removal" of three specific online videos, including one where he calls Reform "the nasty party" and another where he criticises the party for accepting political donations via cryptocurrency.

In one video he criticised her for being a past member of a Facebook group called 'Patriots of Worcester'.

In a statement, Monk said: "As the matter is currently being investigated and legal action may be pursued, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time."

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