- Reform UK councillor Stuart Prior resigned from his elected positions for Essex County Council and Rochford District Council just days after being voted in.
- Prior's resignation followed accusations by campaign group Hope Not Hate that he had made racist social media posts, including describing white people as 'the master race' and suggesting they have 'larger brains', which Prior denied.
- He had been elected to the Rayleigh West division for Essex County Council and the Sweyne Park and Grange ward for Rochford District Council, both with around 40 per cent of the vote.
- A Reform UK source confirmed Prior's resignation for 'personal reasons' and stated that his Reform UK membership had also been revoked.
- Both Essex County Council and Rochford District Council confirmed Prior's resignation, with officers from both authorities now coordinating by-elections to fill the vacant seats.
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