Reform councillor suspended over WhatsApp comments
County councillor Tom Pickup said he respects Reform's decision to suspend him
- Published
A Lancashire Reform UK county councillor has been suspended by the party and is being investigated for his comments made in a WhatsApp group.
County councillor Tom Pickup, who represents Padiham West and Burnley, said he respects Reform's decision to suspend him and carry out their investigation.
Separately, a code of conduct complaint has been made about his involvement in the group to Lancashire County Council (LCC) relating to comments made by others in the group, which he says he was added to and did not actively join or monitor.
LCC said the complaint is being handled in line with its "established procedures".
A spokesman said: "We are aware that County Councillor Tom Pickup has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.
"Councillor Pickup remains a councillor, sitting as an independent.
"A separate code of conduct complaint has also been received and is being handled in line with our established procedures.
"Complaints about councillor conduct are considered under the code and arrangements set out in the council's constitution."
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