Reform UK councillor expelled from party

A Reform UK councillor who was elected to Devon County Council in May has been expelled from the party.

Reform UK said it had expelled Ed Hill for publishing a letter about free school meals in the name of all Reform Devon councillors without their consent.

In June it emerged Hill had reported two fellow Reform councillors to police over election expenses.

Hill, the member for Pinhoe and Mincinglake, said there had been a misunderstanding which led him to believe he could add his colleagues' names as signatories.

A Reform UK spokesman said Hill's actions "damaged the interests of the party".

The spokesman said: "We will not tolerate any councillor using their colleagues' names without their consent."

Hill sent the letter to all of Devon's MPs and to the media asking them to support automatic enrolment for free school meals.

Michael Fife Cook is leader of the Reform group on Devon County Council, which now has 17 members.

He said: "Irrespective of something being a good cause, attaching councillors' names to a letter without their consent is totally unacceptable behaviour.

"That Cllr Hill not only did this, but then made the letter public - including sending it to the media and MPs - meant disciplinary action was inevitable."

Hill said he genuinely believed he had secured the permission of colleagues via one of the Reform councillors.

"I think it feels like an overreaction and I'm still committed to the Reform cause," he said.

"Nobody from Reform contacted me about the suspension before it happened."

Hill was previously removed from his role as chairman of the Exeter branch of Reform after reporting colleagues to police over concerns relating to overspending on election expenses.

He said: "Had I been able to communicate directly with my fellow councillors through formal party channels - instead of being excluded from all internal communications - this confusion could have been easily avoided."

Reform UK said it would not be taking any action against Neil Stevens, member for Alphington and Cowick, regarding his election expense return.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there had been no arrests or charges at this point, but enquiries remain ongoing.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].