Party’s general secretary Tom Waterhouse, who was responsible for checking people’s backgrounds and suitability, leaves role
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wants to improve the vetting of candidates (Image: Getty)
A top Reform official has quit, as Nigel Farage’s party sets out to improve vetting of potential candidates. Tom Waterhouse, the party’s general secretary, has left after 16 months in the job.
Party officials said he was leaving to “spend more time with his family”. But he was responsible for checking the background and suitability of potential candidates, and the Express understands he has left his role as part of a drive to improve the way this is done. Senior figures have also been concerned that the party is failing to act appropriately once issues arise with candidates already in place, and with Reform politicians after they are elected.
George Madgwick, a Reform UK councillor on Hampshire County Council, was charged earlier this month with 35 offences, including 12 counts of rape. He is the leader of the Reform UK group on Hampshire County Council and also a councillor on Portsmouth City Council.
Mr Madgwick has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 25.
In an ITV News report last year, Reform councillors in the West Midlands were filmed making racist comments. Councillor Alan Feeney apologised, resigned from the party and resigned from posts on Solihull Council and Birmingham City Council after he was recorded saying an area was “infested” with Asian families and called them “absolute parasites”.
While the older parties have a large network of councillors, MPs and longstanding candidates in place, Reform has been forced to recruit large numbers at speed since the party’s popularity exploded and Mr Farage set out to make it a viable contender to form a government at Westminster.
A Reform UK spokesman confirmed: “Tom Waterhouse has left his role with Reform UK. The party leader has now appointed an interim general secretary.”