Reform councillor resigns as committee chair

A Reform UK councillor in Wakefield has quit as a committee chair amid claims he has been suspended by the party pending an investigation into his conduct.

Wakefield Council confirmed Jacob Padget had resigned from his role leading the adult services and health overview and scrutiny committee.

In a statement on Monday, Reform's Wakefield branch said Padget had been suspended from the party "with immediate effect" while an internal inquiry was carried out.

But a national Reform spokesperson said he had "not been suspended by the party - only the central party can suspend members. The branch does not have the power to unilaterally suspend people." Padget told the BBC he did not want to comment.

Padget was voted in as one of three Reform UK councillors for the Featherstone ward in May's local elections, winning 1,882 votes.

Gillian Marshall, Wakefield Council's chief legal officer, said: "Councillor Padget has resigned as chair of the adult services & health overview and security committee.

"At the next meeting, the committee will elect a chair for the meeting from within their membership and a report will go to the next full council meeting to appoint a permanent chair."

On Monday, Padget's local Reform UK Wakefield Five Towns and District branch issued a statement on its social media account which said he had been suspended.

The post, which has since been deleted, said: "We promised voters transparency, accountability and straight talking - and that is exactly what we intend to provide.

"Councillor Jacob Padget has been suspended from Reform UK and the party whip has been removed with immediate effect, pending an internal investigation.

"The matter is now subject to the appropriate internal process, and we will not pre-judge its outcome.

"However, we want to make it absolutely clear that any conduct which falls short of the standards expected of those representing Reform UK is taken seriously."

The statement added that the party had "acted immediately upon the matter being brought to our attention", but did not specify the allegation.

It added: "We will provide a further update when the internal investigation has concluded and it is appropriate to do so."

A national Reform UK spokesperson said: "He's not been suspended by the party. Only the central party can suspend members.

"The branch does not have the power to unilaterally suspend people."

Padget remains listed as a Reform UK councillor on Wakefield Council's website.

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