Reform UK has confirmed a councillor in Northumberland has been kicked out of the party over alleged “unacceptable” comments he made online. Hirst councillor John Allen becomes the third Reform councillor to be expelled from the party in recent weeks, following Nicole Brooke and Patrick Lambert.
While Northumberland County Council’s website has only recently been updated, Reform said that Coun Allen had been expelled a few weeks ago. It follows an investigation into allegations the councillor posted comments online about wanting to kill Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Investigation
That investigation followed an article by anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate, which uncovered YouTube comments allegedly made by Coun Allen regarding killing the Prime Minister. Comments made by the account @johnallen7807 included “I cant wait to see Starmer (sic) swinging from a lamp post” and “I’d shoot Starmer myself if I had the weapon and opportunity”.
A spokesman for Reform UK said: “Coun Allen has been expelled from Reform UK for bringing the party into disrepute after making several unacceptable remarks online.”
Coun Brooke and Coun Lambert, who represent the Berwick North and Norham & Islandshires wards respectively, were expelled due to an unrelated matter regarding a challenge to leadership of the local Reform party on the county council.
Coun Allen has also resigned from his position as an Ashington town councillor. A notice was published by the town council last Tuesday giving notice of the vacancy.
He will continue to serve as a county councillor, but will sit as a non-aligned councillor rather than as a member of Reform. It means the party has been reduced to 20 seats – but they remain the official opposition to the Conservative administration.
Coun Allen defeated long-serving Labour and Co-operative councillor Ken Parry at May’s election to take the seat for Reform, receiving a majority of 60 votes.
Coun Allen was contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, but did not respond.
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