Penistone Reform by-election candidate criticised for advertising weight loss drugs
Eunice Asante is standing as the Reform UK candidate for by-election in Penistone East this week.
A Reform candidate for an upcoming by-election in Barnsley advertised weight loss drugs on social media, which is banned.
Eunice Asante is standing as the Reform UK candidate for by-election in Penistone East next week.
She has been criticised over a now deleted Facebook post from 2025 in her name which advertised weight loss treatments offered at her business, Watcom IV Health and Beauty Clinic, where she is the registered director.
The business is registered with Companies House, with the clinic based at Imperial Arcade in Huddersfield.
The post said: “Contact us for your Mounjaro weight loss.
“Watcomiv health and Mounjaro weight loss clinic offers a personalised approach to weight management, utilising innovative medication and expert support to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals by diabetic specialist practitioners who are prescribers…”
It added: “Watcomiv focuses on understanding the biological factors influencing your obesity and will tailor treatment plans to meet your individual needs.”
It also referred to Wygovy injections.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in the UK, advertising prescription-only medication (POMs) to the public is illegal, and can incur an unlimited fine or up to two years imprisonment.
While the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) states that weight loss “services” can be advertised, POMs cannot be referenced and information about them can only be given after a consultation as a treatment option.
Weight loss medication such as Mounjaro and Wegovy are prescription-only and can’t be advertised to the general public but they can be promoted to healthcare professionals and others who can prescribe or supply the product.
Barnsley Labour Group said: “The revelations about Reform’s candidate in Penistone East are deeply concerning.
“Dodgy posts promoting prescription-only medications are hardly the qualities people look for in an elected councillor.
“Once again, this raises serious questions about Reform’s vetting process for candidates. Penistone East and Barnsley deserve better.”
In June, 2026, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) issued a warning to businesses seeking to promote newly authorised medicines.
Julian Beach, MHRA executive director of healthcare quality and access, said: “The Regulations prohibit the publication of an advertisement to the public likely to lead to the use of a prescription-only medicine.
“A consultation with a healthcare professional is the most appropriate way to determine suitable treatment options for an individual patient. It is vital that those who are responsible for marketing of treatment services understand the rules in place to protect consumers and remember their professional duty to safeguard healthcare consultations and decision-making.”
Reform Barnsley were contacted but failed to reply.
Reform UK was contacted but failed to reply.
Barnsley Council opted against issuing a statement.