An MP has called for Reform UK to expel a Norfolk county councillor over social media posts that included reposting comments describing Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy as “like some corrupt African official”.
South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough said the posts by Karl Catchpole, who was elected to Norfolk County Council last month, were “disgraceful” and “completely unacceptable”. Catchpole, who comfortably won the Long Stratton seat with more than 500 votes over the second-placed candidate, has been appointed chair of the council’s infrastructure and development committee.
“Reform UK faces calls to expel a councillor over a racist post and a legal threat over unauthorised use of an artist's portrait.”
Goldsborough highlighted a post from February last year in which Catchpole reposted an attack on Lammy, who was then foreign secretary. The post said: “David Lammy identifies as Caribbean… For some reason, he was made foreign secretary. Now he is arranging to send as much money as he can from Britain to the Caribbean. Like some corrupt African official, he's looting us for his own tribe, in broad daylight.”
The MP also pointed to a post by Catchpole from January 2025 praising far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who was then in prison for contempt of court. Catchpole called Robinson “a caring family man” and said some would describe him as “a political prisoner”, while calling for his release.
Goldsborough said he had written to Reform calling for Catchpole’s expulsion but had received no reply. A Reform spokesman said the party had no comment. Catchpole also declined to comment. Reform, which won 40 seats in the elections, controls the council as a minority administration, though that number fell to 39 after the resignation this week of Old Catton councillor Mark Tucker because of ill health. A by-election for the seat is expected on 16 July.
Separately, Reform UK has removed attack ads featuring a portrait of Andy Burnham after the artist threatened legal action. Illustrator Stanley Chow instructed lawyers to accuse the party of copyright infringement over what he said was unauthorised use of his image to push an “anti-immigration” message. The images were reportedly AI-generated and showed people in a small boat holding “Vote Andy” placards emblazoned with Chow’s portrait of the Greater Manchester Mayor and Labour leadership hopeful.
A Reform UK spokesman said the party maintains that its use of the material “amounts to fair use” and that “this legal action is politically motivated”, but added: “However, we have removed the posts in good faith and without any admission of liability on our part.” Legal firm Brabners, representing Chow, said the artist was entitled to an injunction, compensation and a public apology. A letter of claim is understood to have sought at least £5,000 in damages and a public statement acknowledging Chow’s rights. Brabners said it would advise its client to launch formal court proceedings unless the undertakings were accepted by 2pm on Monday.
Chow, a second-generation immigrant from Manchester, said: “For me, this is straightforward – my work has been used without permission to share a message that I fundamentally disagree with… To see my portrait, created to represent something positive about Manchester and Andy's vision for the city, being used without my permission to push agendas, including an anti-immigration message, is fundamentally unfair and wrong.” Colin Bell, partner at Brabners, called it “a clear case of copyright infringement”.