New Reform councillor for Eccleshall & Gnosall quits two weeks after election for 'personal reasons'

Wayne Titley was one of 49 Reform candidates elected to Staffordshire County Council in the local elections on May 1, as Nigel Farage’s party secured a historic landslide victory.

But Mr Titley has now stepped down from the council for "personal reasons", meaning a by-election will take place for his Eccleshall & Gnosall seat. Reform UK said Mr Titley had made the decision to resign due to the "abuse" he and his family had been receiving.

Mr Titley, who is also a parish councillor in Gnosall, has received criticism online relating to controversial social media posts attributed to him. One such post suggested that the Royal Navy could intercept small boats crossing the Channel with a "volley of gun fire aimed at sinking them".

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “It’s disappointing that the level of abuse Wayne and his family have been receiving has meant that he is no longer able to carry on as a councillor.

“Wayne would have made an excellent champion for the people of Eccleshall and Gnosall and we wish him well for the future. We are now getting ready to contest the by-election and ensure local people have a strong Reform voice to represent them.”

The contest in Eccleshall & Gnosall was one of the closest in Staffordshire, with Mr Titley defeating sitting Tory councillor Jeremy Pert by just 27 votes. Mr Pert, who had been a county councillor for eight years, served as cabinet member for health.

Following his victory, Mr Titley said: “I ran against a formidable county councillor, Jeremy Pert, who is very well respected, and I feel it’s only right people have had the opportunity to make a change at county council level.”

Staffordshire County Council says details of the by-election will be confirmed in due course. The county council is now made up of 48 Reform UK councillors, with 10 Conservatives, one Labour, one Green and one independent councillor.

The first meeting of the full council since the election will take place on Thursday, May 22. Reform councillor Ian Cooper is expected to be elected council leader at the meeting.

Following their election victory, Reform councillors have said their focus will be on reducing ‘wasteful spending’ at the county council.