Tom Pickup - Councillor for Padiham & Burnley West | Reform Watch
Profile and accountability tracker for Tom Pickup, Councillor for Padiham & Burnley West. Reform UK.
Role: Councillor for Padiham & Burnley West
Party: Reform UK
Recorded incidents (showing 1-2 of 2)
Councillor faces allegations over WhatsApp messages calling for genocide
Category: hate speech
Councillor Tom Pickup is said to have been suspended by Reform UK while the party investigates reports about messages in a WhatsApp group. Local reports allege he was identified as a participant in a chat where messages reportedly called for "mass Islam genocide" and one message said the prime minister "needs a f***ing bullet". Pickup is said to have admitted to being in the group and reportedly expressed support for mass deportations during the exchange. Reform UK confirmed the suspension while its internal investigation is carried out.
Councillor suspended after alleged far-right WhatsApp posts
Category: hate speech
County Councillor Tom Pickup (Reform UK) was suspended by the party after posting in a far-right WhatsApp group and making comments urging an expelled hardline MP to lead the party, while asserting that Reform UK was deliberately downplaying its immigration policy to be palatable to the public. It was reported that messages posted by others in the group included calls for Keir Starmer to be shot, talks of stockpiling weapons to commit domestic terrorism and extreme racist rhetoric, including calls for a "mass genocide of Islam". Pickup said he was not aware of those other posts, stated his contributions were months apart, and said he respected the party's decision and intends to sit as an independent while an investigation takes place.