Joe Standen - Councillor for Paulsgrove | Reform Watch

Profile and accountability tracker for Joe Standen, Councillor for Paulsgrove. Reform UK.

Role: Councillor for Paulsgrove

Party: Reform UK

Reform UK councillor representing Paulsgrove ward in Portsmouth. Won in a by-election on 24 Oct 2025.

Recorded incidents (showing 1-1 of 1)

Joe Standen mocked educator for using Zimbabwe flag

Category: discriminatory remark

On 11 August 2026 Reform UK councillor Joe Standen posted on Facebook in response to a Portsmouth notice about a series of children's storytelling events, calling the events "mental" and questioning a "woman with yellow hair" holding a Zimbabwe flag at the sessions in Portsmouth. The post repeated the phrase "A woman with yellow hair, holding up a Zimbabwe flag, celebrating local heroes in Portsmouth?????" and drew public replies. The events were organised by Pamodzi Creatives to celebrate inspirational local stories and diversity. Educator Nathalie Millyard said the Zimbabwe flag related to stories of women who contributed to the city, including people from Zimbabwe; no party or council disciplinary action was reported following Standen's post.