Eccleshall reacts to resignation of its Reform UK county councillor less than two weeks after election

The historic market town of Eccleshall has housed bishops and even a medieval queen over the centuries – but its latest county councillor has departed his post less than a fortnight after being elected.

Reform UK member Wayne Titley took the Eccleshall and Gnosall seat from long-standing Conservative councillor Jeremy Pert by just 27 votes at the beginning of May.

But the newly-elected county councillor never made it to his first public Staffordshire County Council meeting at County Buildings. While fellow new members will take their seats on Thursday for the latest chapter in the county council’s history, Mr Titley’s place on the bench will be empty after his sudden resignation announced earlier this week.

A county council spokesperson said he had “decided to step down for personal reasons.” Reform UK has described the level of abuse he and his family have been receiving in recent days as “disappointing”.

In the days between his election and resignation, controversy had swirled on social media as comments attributed to his Facebook account about illegal boat crossings came to light. 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’.

Eccleshall is far from the coast, in the county described as at the heart of the country by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the eve of his party’s historic Staffordshire win. In times past, the town was a major stopping point for coaches travelling between Chester and London.

It remains a quintessentially English town, with rural charm, bustling pubs and community spirit. The day after Mr Titley’s resignation was announced, Union Flags galore fluttered from buildings in the sunshine following the previous week’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Political battle will be resuming soon in Eccleshall, with the announcement of the by-election to fill the county council vacancy.

Eccleshall parish and borough councillor, and community stalwart, Peter Jones, said the news of the town’s second election had come as a shock to townsfolk.

“Nobody wants to have to do it again”, he said. “In Eccleshall and Gnosall we had the highest turnout in the borough – 41.5% – but that means 58.5% of people didn’t vote, and they are going to ask them again. People are surprised, they can’t believe it. It’s like when Labour won the General Election – you can’t find anybody who admitted to voting Labour in the weeks afterwards. Some people are ‘paper candidates’ in an election – you want members of the public to have the opportunity to vote for the party they support. Some people didn’t expect to get elected.”

Elsewhere in the town, as visitors and residents alike take time for lunch in the spring air, there are mixed views on Reform UK and their leader, Nigel Farage. Some express their support for the party, while others feel quite the opposite – and very few are willing to give their full names when asked.

John Maddock, speaking of the prospect of a by-election so soon after the previous poll, said: “It’s a bit ridiculous if you think about it. (Mr Titley) has only just got in, now he has packed it in. As for Farage, there are no words. He’s too far aligned with Donald Trump – if he ever became Prime Minister this country would become part of the US”.

At The Ecclian pub on the High Street, one customer says he would have voted for Reform UK in the election earlier this month if he had been able to get to the polling station.

“I like their leader, Nigel,” he said. “I’m not going to go to the community centre to vote though. I can’t walk very far.”

Another customer said: “I’m on the fence about Reform. Until they prove themselves, there is nothing to go on. They needed to weed people out though. When you make comments about immigration or say things in a certain context, if you are going to stand for election, you can’t have that as part of your background – it’s ridiculous.”

A passer-by in Stafford Street branded the online comment attributed to Mr Titley as a “stupid thing to say”.

“Sometimes they are beyond stupid”, he added. “You can’t go about like that when you’re up for election. I would like to know more about what he is supposed to have done.”

Back at The Ecclian, one customer knows the Titley family and spoke of the impact recent events have had on them. “He’s had abuse and it’s upset his wife and children”, the man said.

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.”