Reform UK's Suffolk social media accounts 'hijacked' with 'vile' posts
The party’s Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket branch promised to shut down its X and Facebook accounts
Reform UK has said some of its Suffolk social media has been ‘hijacked by agitators’ after ‘vile’ posts were shared.
The party’s Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket branch promised to shut down its X and Facebook accounts, but stressed nobody active within the group had been behind the controversial posts.
It follows a variety of posts made as early as last week and dating back several months, which have attracted significant backlash.
One such post, made on May 13 and shared by the branch on X, included a reply to Allison Gardner, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, alleging she was protecting paedophiles while displaying an image with the word ‘Paedo’.
Cllr Simon Aalders, the branch’s chairman who was elected to the county council’s Eastgate and Moreton Hall division, said he had tried to ‘clean it off’ before, but without success.
“We’re not entirely sure what has happened,” he said, “we think we have been hacked.
“We don’t know who has access to it, but we do realise this seems to be a lot more systematic.”
Another post, made on May 2 and shared by the branch’s X page, replied to a video featuring a Green Party volunteer saying he hated shampoo, himself and life.
Posting and sharing content referring to members and supporters of the Green Party as ‘unwashed’ and ‘Islamic’ happens frequently on the page.
The issues were brought forward by Andy McGowan, who stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Eastgate and Moreton Hall division.
“Quite simply, this vile, divisive content has absolutely no place in Bury St Edmunds,” he said, “the political temperature needs to come down, and all of our elected councillors need to play their part in this.
The systemic posting did not stop at elected representatives and party members, however, with one post authored by the branch referring to broadcaster James O’Brien as ‘sub-human’ and ‘human garbage’.
Addressing concerns, Cllr Michael Hadwen, who is expected to become the county council’s new leader tomorrow, said he was not aware of the issues and had no contact with the branch before being elected.
He said: “I have spoken to our members in the relevant branch, and they have made me aware that the account was hijacked by agitators who have been posting without the party’s consent.
“I have asked the branch officials to push for the account to be taken down to avoid any further embarrassment.”
‘Deeply concerning’
Representatives of opposition parties across the county have criticised the branch for its social media activity.
Dr Peter Prinsley, the Labour MP representing the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket patch, said using terms such as ‘rainbow loons’ – which had been addressed at the Greens – was unacceptable.
He said: “Political debate should never descend into language that demeans people because of their sexuality, faith or background.
“We can disagree respectfully without resorting to prejudice or inflaming tensions in our community.
Andrew Stringer, the county’s Green leader, said it was the job of everyone in politics to ‘uphold the highest standards of integrity’.
“It is deeply concerning that Reform UK are now responsible for running education, adult social care, and our highways for the whole of Suffolk, but seems powerless to responsibly administer a simple Facebook page,” he said.
Richard Rout, the county’s Conservative leader, said it should never have taken widespread community pressure for the party to take action.
He added: “Political representation should be about improving our area for everyone, regardless of the party we support, and where we disagree – doing so respectfully.
“The Reform activists controlling this page seemed intent on nothing but sowing the seeds of division and hatred – behaviour like this has no place in our politics.”
‘A message of change’
Cllr Aalders said the branch wanted to make sure it would not happen again and promised the accounts would be deleted.
He added: “Reform is a professional party, we are professional and sensible people – we are carrying a message of change.
“Something that belittles anybody is not okay; that’s not a healthy thing to do.”