Stuart Prior (Rochford): resignation on 2026-05-11
Reason & context
Per Reform UK statement (11 May 2026): "Stuart Prior informed us that he was resigning from his elected positions for personal reasons. We have also revoked his Reform UK membership." Reform's resignation announcement followed campaign group Hope Not Hate exposing alleged social-media posts in which Prior is said to have celebrated the rape of two Sikh women in the Midlands, described white people as "the master race", and called Muslim people "rats". Prior denied making the posts when contacted by the Daily Mirror, which broke the story.
Sources
- primary Reform councillor Stuart Prior resigns seat and is expelled by party following Mirror probe [mirror.co.uk]
- corroborating Newly elected Reform councillor resigns after social media claims [theguardian.com]
- corroborating Reform UK councillor in Essex quits after social media claims [bbc.com]
- corroborating New Reform councillor quits days into job following racist post claims [independent.co.uk]
- corroborating Reform UK councillor resigns from role just days after local elections [manchestereveningnews.co.uk]
- cross_check How many councillors has Reform UK lost since the May 2026 elections? [markpack.org.uk]
Disclosure. Compiled by Paul G Webster, communications officer for the East Lindsey Green Party. Every tracker entry is added on the same two-source verification standard regardless of which party the councillor was elected for.