Convicted Reform politician no longer councillor

A council has confirmed there will be a by-election after a Reform UK councillor who posted a "defamatory" social media message about a Conservative candidate was found guilty of breaking electoral law.

Andy Osborn, 74, was chairman of the North East Cambridgeshire Reform Party in April 2025, when he posted the message.

He was convicted of making or publishing a false statement under the Representation of the People Act 1983 at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month.

Cambridgeshire County Council said Osborn, who represented Roman Bank and Peckover, "has not lodged an appeal in time, therefore, he is no longer a county councillor".

Osborn's court hearing was told he wrote on Facebook in April 2025: "Samantha Hoy worked in the care industry but allegedly was sacked for fraud no wonder Wisbech is in such a state. Reform UK will fix it."

Hoy, who works in the care industry and has never been sacked or faced fraud allegations, later responded online, describing the claims as "an absolute lie and extremely defamatory and damaging".

She is a councillor at both county and district level.

Osborn claimed that his account had been hacked, but the judge dismissed this and found him guilty of the charge.

After his conviction became an independent councillor and was suspended from the duties of his office.

A council statement said: "We have now received confirmation from the court that Mr Osborn has not lodged an appeal in time, therefore, he is no longer a county councillor.

"We will be making the necessary arrangements to convene a by-election for the Roman Bank and Peckover division in Fenland."

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