Farage says Staffordshire council boss racism probe ‘doesn’t look good’

Cooper was formally selected as leader of the authority in May, after Reform UK secured 49 seats on the council.

Farage said that part of the party’s vetting procedure was that “people have to be honest with us and declare what social media accounts they’ve had.”

Whether candidates or elected, “you can deal with problems in their past whatever they might be. Personal, you name it, but you have to know what they are,” he said.

He said he made a “snap decision”, after finding out on Wednesday afternoon, that “we had to go through due process and all I would say is it doesn’t look very good”.

Asked by a reporter if Cooper should be suspended, Farage reiterated: “We are going through due process, all I can say is it doesn’t look very good.

“We expect our people to be truthful with us and if they’re truthful with us, we’ll be honourable towards them.”