Hope Not Hate has alleged that a Reform UK councillor in Kirklees posted abusive comments about a former Commons Speaker before he was elected.
The claims, published by Hope Not Hate on 12 August 2026, concern David Rowan, described as a Reform councillor for Kirklees since May 2026. The group alleges Rowan posted the phrase “Hang the Dwarf” about then-Speaker John Bercow in 2019, alongside homophobic posts and support for Tommy Robinson.
Let me be upfront about the status of all of this: we have not independently verified the screenshots. What follows is an accurate description of Hope Not Hate’s reporting, attributed as such:
- HNH alleges Rowan posted “Hang the Dwarf” about John Bercow in 2019
- HNH alleges the same account posted homophobic content
- HNH alleges the account displayed support for Tommy Robinson
- HNH says Reform UK did not respond when asked about the posts
None of this has been proven in any forum. David Rowan has not been convicted of anything, no court has ruled on the matter, and the screenshots have not been independently authenticated. So we describe the claims exactly as made, with “alleged” and “alleges” doing the work they are supposed to do. That is the standard for material of this kind, and we are not going to be the outlet that skips it because the story reads better without it.
Why are we covering it at all, then? Because if it verifies, it sits squarely in the lane this publication exists to fill: what a councillor posted before taking office, whether the standards process engages, and whether the party responds. Kirklees Council has a statutory duty under the Localism Act 2011 to maintain a monitoring officer and a standards regime for councillors.
The angle we are pursuing: the council’s monitoring officer process, Reform’s response (or silence), and whether the underlying posts are verifiable from primary social media records. If Reform UK responds, we will print it in full. And for the record, Hope Not Hate’s wider track record, including its research contributing to convictions of far-right activists, is not in dispute here.
Sources
- Hope Not Hate — “Reform councillor called for Commons Speaker to be hanged” (12 August 2026)
- Localism Act 2011 — standards provisions (legislation.gov.uk)
All sources accessed 15 August 2026. The underlying claims are attributed to Hope Not Hate and have not been independently verified by this publication at the time of writing.