Reform UK councillor Ed Hill expelled from celebration

Miles Davis

BBC Devon political reporter

BBC Ed Hill wearing a blue and cream patterned tie, a pink shirt and a blue check suit jacket. He is also wearing black-framed glasses and is sitting in a kitchen. — Ed Hill was elected as a Reform UK councillor on Devon County Council however has now been expelled from the celebration

A Reform UK councillor who was elected to Devon County Council in Could has been expelled from the celebration.

Reform UK mentioned it had expelled Ed Hill for publishing a letter about free college meals within the title of all Reform Devon councillors with out their consent.

In June it emerged Hill had reported two fellow Reform councillors to police over election bills.

Hill, the member for Pinhoe and Mincinglake, mentioned there had been a misunderstanding which led him to consider he might add his colleagues’ names as signatories.

‘Unacceptable’

A Reform UK spokesman mentioned Hill’s actions “broken the pursuits of the celebration”.

The spokesman mentioned: “We won’t tolerate any councillor utilizing their colleagues’ names with out their consent.”

Hill despatched the letter to all of Devon’s MPs and to the media asking them to help computerized enrolment without cost college meals.

Michael Fife Prepare dinner is chief of the Reform group on Devon County Council, which now has 17 members.

He mentioned: “Regardless of one thing being trigger, attaching councillors’ names to a letter with out their consent is completely unacceptable behaviour.

“That Cllr Hill not solely did this, however then made the letter public – together with sending it to the media and MPs – meant disciplinary motion was inevitable.”

Ed Hill (sat on the correct) mentioned there had been a misunderstanding

Ed Hill is on the right here, sitting next to Tony Stevens and Neil Stevens (wearing a tie) and Angie Nash — Ed Hill (sat on the correct) mentioned there had been a misunderstanding

Hill mentioned he genuinely believed he had secured the permission of colleagues through one of many Reform councillors.

“I feel it seems like an overreaction and I am nonetheless dedicated to the Reform trigger,” he mentioned.

“No one from Reform contacted me in regards to the suspension earlier than it occurred.”

Hill was beforehand faraway from his function as chairman of the Exeter department of Reform after reporting colleagues to police over considerations referring to overspending on election bills.

He mentioned: “Had I been capable of talk immediately with my fellow councillors by formal celebration channels – as an alternative of being excluded from all inside communications – this confusion might have been simply averted.”

Reform UK mentioned it might not be taking any motion towards Neil Stevens, member for Alphington and Cowick, relating to his election expense return.

Devon and Cornwall Police mentioned there had been no arrests or fees at this level, however enquiries stay ongoing.