Reform quizzed over councillor's Facebook posts

Reform UK has refused to answer questions about a new Doncaster councillor whose Facebook account featured posts comparing black Islamic dress to bin bags.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) approached the party after a number of posts on a Facebook account belonging to Councillor Mark Broadhurst went viral along with calls to "suspend him".

The LDRS had asked whether the posts – including a since deleted image which suggested Adolf Hitler would be a "legend" had he targeted people following Islam – were acceptable to the party.

A Reform UK spokesperson said the party would not be commenting on questions submitted by the LDRS.

The party also declined to answer questions on whether any action would be taken against councillors who share offensive content on social media.

Reform UK was asked why the posts were not flagged in the reportedly upgraded vetting process for political candidates but the party also declined to answer.

Mr Broadhurst continues to work as a Reform UK representative for Hatfield ward on the City of Doncaster Council where the party has 37 seats.

The overwhelming majority would normally have given Reform UK control of the council but - due to Labour winning the vote for the Mayor of Doncaster - executive control of the council remained with them.

Reform UK's Alexander Jones was just 698 votes behind Labour's Ros Jones in the mayoral contest.

Doncaster Council has said that following the election, all councillors had received training on the Councillor Code of Conduct which applies to them following their election and which sets out the expectations of them.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North