Reform UK has launched an investigation into the social media activity of Staffordshire County Council leader Ian Cooper amid allegations he posted racist comments online.

Campaign group Hope Not Hate claims Cllr Cooper made the comments from accounts on X and YouTube.

This includes a post concerning Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, saying that ‘no foreign national or first-generation migrant should be allowed’ to be an MP.

A spokesperson for Reform UK has confirmed ‘we are undergoing an urgent internal investigation over Cllr Cooper's non-disclosure of social media accounts’.

Hope Not Hate alleges Cooper ‘has posted dozens of racist and bigoted posts’ on social media under his personal accounts.

It said it began investigating Cooper’s social media activity after the X account ReformExposed claimed earlier this week that he is listed as a ‘top fan’ of a racist Facebook page called ‘The European Race’.

‘The picture painted by Cooper’s social media posts is of a man who is deeply bigoted and tapped into far-right media and terminology,’ said Hope Not Hate concerning the posts it claims are from the Staffordshire County Council leader.

Labour MPs representing Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are calling for Cooper to resign over the allegations.

Tamworth MP Sarah Edwards said: ‘These far-right, racist ideas have no place in our society and certainly not in public office.

‘As an elected representative of our county, Ian Cooper has a fundamental duty to uphold the values of equality, integrity and respect for all. By amplifying such toxic content, he has failed in that duty.

‘This rhetoric is wholly incompatible with public service and with the standards expected of anyone entrusted with leadership. Staffordshire residents deserve far better than this. Ian Cooper should step down.’

Meanwhile, Burton and Uttoxeter MP Jacob Collier has written to Reform councillors in his constituency ‘asking if the posts reflect their views and if they will do the right thing and remove their leader’.

He added: ‘We have freedom of speech but there is not freedom from consequence. And the consequences of holding racist and white supremacy views is that you cannot lead our diverse county or represent our people.

‘The British people are decent, tolerant and have no time for hate against others. The vast majority will find these views beyond appalling.’

To learn more about Reform UK, check out: Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for and Reform UK’s ‘Doge’ witch-hunts will achieve little.