Reform's Council "Shambles" as 22-Year-Old Deputy Ousted

A political storm is brewing in Leicestershire after Reform UK's 22-year-old deputy leader, Joseph Boam, was removed from his senior position on the County Council after a brief three-month tenure. The move has drawn sharp criticism and raised serious questions about the party's governance and leadership.

Mr. Boam, who had served as the cabinet lead for adult social care and communities, denied resigning, though he did not comment on whether he was sacked. He stated he has been offered and is "inclined to take" a cabinet support role, and vowed to continue his work for his constituents in Whitwick. "My focus remains on delivering for the people I was elected to serve," he said, dismissing earlier social media controversies as "political smears." Mr. Boam has previously shared images of himself with Reform leader Nigel Farage on his X account.

The decision has been met with a scathing response from the main opposition. The leader, Ms. Taylor, branded the Reform-led council a "shambles," arguing that Mr. Boam was "wholly unqualified" for the critical social care role, which she said requires "steady hands, long-term commitment and a depth of understanding." Ms. Taylor accused the Reform administration of delivering "instability, poor judgment, and revolving-door appointments" instead of the stability and vision Leicestershire residents need.

The reasons for Mr. Boam's removal are officially unclear, with council leader Dan Harrison declining to comment until a party group meeting. A Reform UK source thanked Mr. Boam for his role in establishing the Reform Group. The move follows an earlier incident where the Conservative group urged Mr. Boam to "educate himself" after an account bearing his name posted that "depression isn't real." Mr. Boam dismissed the claims as "fake news."

Public opinion on the matter is divided. Some commentators defended Mr. Boam, suggesting he was "voted in to fail" and lacked the support to succeed. One person wrote that with "no council experience, no understanding of due process," and "experienced councillors going out of their way to make him look bad," he was "going to fail eventually." They argued that instead of supporting him, "the wolves were circling." Others questioned the party's choice of young candidates for crucial roles, with one commenter writing that it is "time to be really serious and stop using kids... to make decisions or be put in important roles, which they haven't the maturity to take on." Another suggested the "Reform Administration... has lacked leadership and direction from the very start."

Reform UK, which won 25 of the 55 seats on the council in the May local elections, formed a minority administration to take control from the Conservatives. Mr. Boam was not the party's youngest senior county council official; 19-year-old George Finch is the current leader of Warwickshire County Council.