A Reform UK councillor elected just over a week ago has resigned after failing to declare that he worked for the council.
Andrew Kilburn will no longer take up his role as a Durham county councillor for Benfieldside.
He was elected with 1,007 votes alongside fellow Reform candidate Sandra Grindle as the party gained both seats in the Benfieldside ward – one from Labour and one from an independent.
Reform councillor resigns one week after election, BBC
Day: 12 May 2025
Reform UK accused of vetting failures after ‘extreme’ posts by new councillors uncovered
The social media posts have been described as racist, Islamophobic, and misogynistic – including a post by one elected councillor who “joked” about beating his wife.
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The posts seen by LBC include:
Reform UK accused of vetting failures after ‘extreme’ posts by new councillors uncovered, LBC
- A Reform UK councillor “joking” about domestic abuse and racially stereotyping former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
- Another saying we should build fewer mosques because they “divide communities”.
- Others appearing to promote conspiracy theories that climate change is ‘geo-engineered’ and supporting far right figures including Tommy Robinson.