A Reform UK councillor has been suspended from the party following the resurfacing of historical social media posts that appeared to contain inflammatory remarks. The posts, dating back to 2019, drew condemnation for their apparent threats and derogatory language.
Kirklees councillor Dave Rowan was seen in a post on X (formerly Twitter) writing “Hang the Dwarf” in a comment related to former Commons Speaker John Bercow. Additional posts from the same year, predating his tenure as a councillor, included homophobic and Islamophobic sentiments, according to reports.
In one post, Rowan was quoted as saying: “As a parent not at school.. I don’t believe gays should have kids full stop..” Another message read: “Too many muslims mi thinks.. Make sure you take a marker pen Good luck.”
A spokesperson for Reform UK confirmed that Rowan has been suspended pending a full investigation into the matter. The party released a statement: “Cllr Rowan has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.”