Reform leader stays quiet over suspension of new councillor

Ricketts awaits investigation

The leader of Plymouth’s Reform UK group is staying quiet regarding the suspension of newly elected councillor Ben Rowe from the party over allegations of Islamophobic and antisemitic social media posts.

Ben Rowe, was elected to the Ham ward with 1,649 votes in last Thursday’s election, unseating Labour’s ex Lord Mayor Tina Tuohy.

Reform UK announced it was investigating the candidate in the run up to the election after a story broke in The Times newspaper on April 23 alleging that he wrote a number of offensive social media posts.

According to the article in The Times he urged protesters throwing bricks at police defending a mosque to “get rid of that filthy building” during the 2024 Southport riots and described immigrants as “breeding like rats” as well as accusing “the Jews” of “creating division by forcing other races on our societies”. 

But Mr Rowe later claimed on his Facebook page that the comments were taken out of context and his property had been attacked because of the story.

At the time of the accusations, leader of the Plymouth Reform UK group Cllr Steve Ricketts declined to comment as he said the matter was being “thoroughly investigated” by the national party. He reiterated this today despite mounting pressure for him to comment further.

He said: “Ben Rowe has been suspended by the party and they are investigating his social media posts. While he is suspended he is no longer part of the Reform UK  Plymouth City Council Group. I cannot comment further.”

Labour MP for Sutton and Devonport Luke Pollard said the people of Ham deserved a representative who stood up for everyone, regardless of their background. 

“There is no place for hate or division in Plymouth,  not in our streets, and certainly not in those who represent us.

“While the party has taken action to suspend him (Mr Rowe), the fact remains that voters were presented with a candidate who held these views, in spite of these concerns being raised before the election. We need higher standards in our local politics and I will continue to work for a Plymouth that is welcoming, diverse, and united against hate.”

Ben Rowe was elected with more than double the amount of votes than second place Tina Tuohy.

He was one of 14 Reform UK candidates to be voted in in Plymouth last week in an election which saw Labour lose eight seats and cling on to just two of the 19 up for grabs.. 

Labour still runs the council with a 31 member majority but has a much larger opposition in Reform UK than either the Tories or Independents could give prior to the election.