Kirklees councillor Dave Rowan was suspended from Reform UK pending an investigation after old social media posts resurfaced in which he appeared to call for former Commons Speaker John Bercow to be hanged. The party later confirmed the suspension, and according to a subsequent report from a national broadcaster's report, Rowan has since been reinstated after an internal disciplinary process concluded with a final written warning.
The posts in question date back to 2019. One message on X referred to Bercow as "the Dwarf" and called for him to be hanged. Other posts from the same year, predating Rowan's time as a councillor, contained language that was widely viewed as homophobic and Islamophobic.
Among the resurfaced material, Rowan wrote about parenting and sexuality:
As a parent not at school.. I don't beleive gays should have kids full stop..
In a separate post, he made a comment referencing Muslims that was interpreted as inciting vandalism:
Too many muslims mi thinks.. Make sure you take a marker pen Good luck.
A Reform UK spokesperson confirmed the disciplinary action taken against him:
Cllr Rowan has been suspended from Reform UK pending investigation.
Separately, according to another news outlet's coverage, the resurfaced posts also allegedly showed Rowan expressing support for activist Tommy Robinson and suggesting that Westminster be converted into a branch of the Wetherspoons pub chain.
How did Rowan come to hold his seat?
Rowan was elected to Kirklees Council in May 2026, taking the Colne Valley West ward from Labour. That result was part of a broader surge for Reform UK, which became the largest party on the council after winning 29 seats in the local elections held that month.
The party has since experienced further changes to its group on the council. Councillor Susan Maxfield left Reform UK to sit as an Independent on 3 July 2026, while councillor Craig Wiles stepped down entirely on 26 June 2026 citing health issues.
A Kirklees Council spokesperson addressed Rowan's status following the suspension:
We are aware that Cllr Rowan is currently suspended from the Reform UK group but remains a Kirklees councillor.
Is this part of a wider pattern for Reform UK?
Rowan's case is not an isolated incident. Reform UK previously suspended Sunderland councillor Glenn Gibbins amid allegations of racist and misogynistic online posts, as detailed in our earlier coverage of that suspension, with party leaders at the time acknowledging failures in candidate vetting. The party also suspended a Scotland candidate over financial allegations ahead of the Holyrood election, and saw three candidates resign in the Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan Senedd race amid separate controversies. According to the same broadcaster report cited above, these repeated suspensions and reinstatements reflect a broader pattern of post-election disciplinary problems the party has faced since its strong showing in the May 2026 local elections.
What happens next?
At the time the suspension was first reported, Reform UK said Rowan's case remained subject to a formal internal investigation, with no public timetable given for its conclusion. That process has since resulted in his reinstatement with a final written warning, according to the broadcaster's follow-up report, though it remains unclear what specific findings informed that outcome. Rowan has been approached for comment.
Key Facts
- Dave Rowan was elected to Kirklees Council in May 2026, winning Colne Valley West from Labour.
- Old 2019 posts appeared to call for John Bercow to be hanged and included homophobic and Islamophobic language.
- Reform UK confirmed his suspension pending investigation; Kirklees Council said he remained a sitting councillor throughout.
- Rowan was later reinstated with a final written warning, according to a national broadcaster's report.
- Separate reporting alleged the posts also showed support for Tommy Robinson and a suggestion to turn Westminster into a Wetherspoons.
