Peterborough Reform councillor speaks out over viral UKIP slip
He says he's learned how 'brutal' social media is
Peter Reeve, a Reform UK councillor, went viral online after referring to his former party, UKIP, during a television interview at Peterborough's local election results on 8th May.
Reeve, who secured the Stanground South ward seat on 7th May, was recorded in the early hours stating, “Our message is: ‘UKIP’s here, working hard with local communities,” before quickly correcting himself by noting his political journey from UKIP to Reform.
The clip, posted on social media, has since gone viral, drawing significant attention to Reeve and his comments.
Addressing the situation with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Reeve attributed the gaffe to being overtired, stating, “It wasn’t deliberate,” while acknowledging how the mistake fueled extensive media coverage.
The councillor remarked on the unexpected national attention, labelling it significant, but assured there were no hard feelings toward the broadcaster that aired his mistake, observing, “I don’t see a real problem with the ITV interview itself.”
Reeve aimed to distinguish Reform UK’s distinct identity from UKIP, confirming his continued pride in his past work with UKIP.
“The.. thing I’ve learned is how brutal social media is,” Reeve explained, noting the intense negative commentary and the impact on younger generations.
Despite these challenges, Reeve considers the experience impactful, shedding light on the digital world's adverse effects.
“I’ve got a much better insight into how social media can affect people in a toxic and negative way,” he concluded.