Reform UK Councillor Suspended Over Alleged “Mass Islam Genocide” WhatsApp Group
A Reform UK councillor remains suspended pending investigation after admitting membership in a WhatsApp group where participants allegedly advocated for violence, including calls for a “mass Islam genocide.”
A Reform UK councillor, Tom Pickup, has been suspended from the party following revelations of his participation in a private WhatsApp group rife with extremist rhetoric. The allegations, reported by The Guardian, center around messages exchanged within the group, established by a right-wing activist, that included calls for violence and deeply offensive statements.
Pickup, elected to Lancashire county council in May, confirmed his membership in the group but claims his own messages have been taken out of context. The suspension, confirmed by Nigel Farage’s party on Wednesday, is pending a full investigation into his involvement and the nature of the group’s activities.
The controversy erupted after screenshots of messages from the group were circulated on social media. One exchange detailed a threat against Labour leader Keir Starmer, with one member stating he “needs a fucking bullet,” to which another responded, “He’s a DICKtator.” Pickup himself reportedly replied by referring to the prime minister as a “dicktaker.”
Further messages attributed to group members included a deeply disturbing call for a “mass Islam genocide” and encouragement to stockpile weapons to target “lefties” and “migrants.” Pickup has vehemently denied supporting such views, stating he would have “condemned and probably reported” the message had he seen it. He claims to have left the group this week after the screenshots surfaced.
“Of course not,” Pickup stated when asked directly about the alleged call for genocide. “I’ve done a lot of community engagement work with the Islamic community. It’s something that I would have condemned and probably reported but I don’t know if they [the messages] are genuine. I’ve not seen them.” He further explained that messages within the group automatically deleted after 24 hours, making it difficult to verify the full extent of the extremist content.
Pickup attempted to downplay his own contributions, characterizing his comments as “jokey” and attributing them to “poor judgment.” He asserted that he was generally unaware of the more extreme posts, claiming, “99% of what occurs in groups, I don’t see. Based on my involvement in it and what I have seen, I’ve been my usual jokey self and it’s been twisted out of context.” He also revealed that members of Reform UK were “a lot more hardline on immigration than is typically stated publicly,” suggesting a strategic approach to public messaging.
The allegations have sparked outrage and calls for Pickup’s resignation. Samara Barnes, a Labour councillor on Lancashire county council, reported Pickup to the authority’s standards watchdog and issued a strong condemnation. “We are at a time when we’re living in a tinderbox and if people are suggesting we should be having an Islam genocide, this is domestic terrorism,” Barnes stated. “We’ve seen what can happen when people become radicalised, people become emboldened to do really nasty things. This is beyond an apology or some training. This is more serious and Reform UK need to really take a stand.”
Lancashire county council confirmed that Pickup remains a councillor, albeit sitting as an independent while the Reform UK investigation proceeds. The incident raises serious questions about vetting processes within the party and the potential for extremist views to infiltrate local government. The investigation is expected to determine the extent of Pickup’s involvement and whether his actions warrant further disciplinary measures or legal repercussions.
