Councillor profile

Photo of Tom Pickup

Tom Pickup

Suspended
Council
Lancashire
Ward
Padiham & Burnley West
Next Election
3 May 2029

Timeline

Reform councillor suspended after 'Islam genocide' comments made in WhatsApp group

Tom Pickup, a Reform UK councillor for Lancashire County Council, was suspended pending investigation after being part of a WhatsApp group where members allegedly called for 'mass Islam genocide' and made extreme political statements.

lbc.co.uk

Suspended

Suspended for messages in a far-right WhatsApp group; readmitted to Reform UK February 2026

Reform UK Lancashire leader suspended over leaked 'hardline immigration' WhatsApp messages

County Councillor Tom Pickup, the lead member for finance at Lancashire County Council, was suspended from Reform UK after leaked WhatsApp messages showed him claiming Reform is 'a lot more hardline on immigration than is typically stated publicly', posted in a far-right group started by an associate of Tommy Robinson.

hellorayo.co.uk

We need your help to build this resource. Add an article →