Jay Cooper (Sefton): resignation on 2026-05-13
Reason & context
Cllr Jay Cooper has publicly resigned from Reform UK following continued reporting on his pre-election Facebook comments calling the Holocaust a hoax. Resignation statement was posted to Cooper's Facebook page, in which he apologises for the comments and confirms his departure from the party. Liverpool Echo reports the resignation as confirmed (12-13 May 2026). Sefton council CMIS register has not yet been updated and still lists Cllr Cooper as Reform UK for Bootle West — register lag, comparable to Stuart Prior's council registers in the days after his Reform resignation.
Sources
- primary Reform UK face questions after Holocaust-is-a-hoax candidate elected [jewishnews.co.uk]
- primary New Bootle councillor apologises for Holocaust comments and quits Reform UK [liverpoolecho.co.uk]
- corroborating Holocaust denial and 9/11 theories: The vile views of this Reform candidate [liverpoolecho.co.uk]
- corroborating Farage: Reform councillor who said Holocaust a hoax 'not welcome' [liverpoolecho.co.uk]
- corroborating New Reform councillor resigns whip after Holocaust denial comments brought to light [thejc.com]
- corroborating Reform candidate said Holocaust was hoax [uk.news.yahoo.com]
- cross_check Sefton Council — Election results for Bootle West (7 May 2026) [modgov.sefton.gov.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.