Exclusive: Calls for anti-extremism investigation of suspended Reform councillor after 'hardline' posts in far-right WhatsApp group revealed
Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup claims the party is showing a moderate face to the public that masks true immigration policies
A senior Reform UK figure in Lancashire has been suspended by the party after posting in a far-right Whatsapp group calling for expelled hardline anti-immigrant MP Rupert Lowe to lead the party and saying Reform is deliberately downplaying its immigration policy to be palatable to the public.
County Cllr Tom Pickup, who is lead member for finances and resources and represents Padiham and Burnley West at the Reform-led authority, will sit as an independent after his contributions to the group were made public.
Messages posted by others in the group “Missuskents Patriotic Community”, run by conspiracy theorist rapper MissusKent, who performed at Tommy Robinson’s Unite The Kingdom rally in September, included calls for Keir Starmer to be shot, talks of stockpiling weapons to commit domestic terrorism and extreme examples of racism, including calls for a “mass genocide of Islam”. Reform leader Nigel Farage has repeatedly sought to distance himself from Robinson and his acolytes.
Pickup told The Lead said that he was not aware of the other posts being made in the group and that his posts were made several months apart.
Now a Labour figure has called for the councillor to be referred to Prevent, the government initiative on counter-terrorism, over his association with the WhatsApp group.
Labour Cllr Samara Barnes told The Lead: “I was deeply concerned to see Cllr Pickup’s involvement in a WhatsApp group that is clearly sharing extremely abhorrent opinions, including calling for a ‘mass Islam genocide’, suggesting procuring air rifles and other weapons and sharing photos of various swords and blades.
“It’s nothing short of domestic terrorism and I have insisted that a Prevent referral is made by Lancashire County Council.
“Cllr Pickup does not meet the high standards of behaviour expected of an elected member. He has let his constituents down incredibly. They deserve much better and while he may be suspended by his party, I think he should do the right thing and step down altogether.”
Pickup’s messages in the group include stating: “Everyone in Reform is a lot more hardline on immigration than is typically stated publicly, to get a majority government we have to be tactical.”
He also said: “I think a clear and detailed policy on immigration will be rolled out quite soon, but until now as the party have been growing it’s been good to use tact to get us there, previous more hardline parties have all failed by not doing this approach.”
When asked which ‘previous hardline parties’ he was referring to as coming before Reform UK, he said he wasn’t thinking of any in particular.
He told the Lead in a statement: “I’ve nothing but positive things to say about Reform, especially in Lancashire, and I intend to keep delivering for the county.
“I respect the decision Reform has taken and think it’s the right thing to do while an investigation takes place.”
The WhatsApp group was started by far-right rapper and influencer MissusKent who appeared on stage at a Tommy Robinson rally in September. In a rap that reportedly called out Keir Starmer at that event, she also heaped love on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pickup said those are views he does not agree with and that he was not aware were being shared in the group.
He pointed to his work with cross-faith charity The Light Foundation as an example of this.
He added that he does not hope to see Rupert Lowe leading Reform UK in future.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “We are aware that County Councillor Tom Pickup has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.
“Cllr Pickup remains a councillor, sitting as an independent.”
About the author: Luke Bearsworth is senior editor for The Lead North and editor of The Lancashire Lead.
At The Lead we keep a watchful gaze on what Reform are up to, from our in-depth original reporting in our Northern titles - such as this story today from Lancashire - or in our weekly Reform Watch feature to our Westminster Editor Zoe Grunewald deconstructing Nigel Farage’s arguments. We can only do this thanks to you, our readers, so become a supporter of The Lead today and ensure there’s an independent progressive publication standing up to the likes of Reform. And share this story so others can read it.