Labour MP Ben Goldsborough Demands Reform UK Expel Councillor Karl Catchpole Over Social Media Posts
Labour MP Ben Goldsborough has called for the expulsion of Karl Catchpole, a newly elected Reform UK councillor for Norfolk County Council, following the emergence of controversial social media posts. Mr Catchpole, who secured the Long Stratton seat last month, is accused by Mr Goldsborough of making “disgraceful” comments.
Councillor’s Posts Under Scrutiny
Among the posts highlighted by Mr Goldsborough is a retweet from February last year, originally an attack on David Lammy, then Foreign Secretary and now Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary. The reposted comment stated, “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.”
Mr Goldsborough also referenced a January 2025 post by Mr Catchpole praising far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. In the post, Mr Catchpole described Robinson as “a caring family man” and suggested he was a “political prisoner”, advocating for his release. At the time, Robinson was incarcerated for contempt of court.
Reform UK Declines Comment
Mr Goldsborough, who represents South Norfolk, described the depiction of Mr Lammy as “completely unacceptable” and not reflective of local values. He confirmed that he had written to Reform UK to demand Mr Catchpole’s expulsion but had not received a reply. Mr Catchpole, recently appointed chair of the council’s infrastructure and development committee, also declined to comment.
Reform UK, which operates a minority administration on Norfolk County Council with 39 seats following a recent resignation, has issued no official statement regarding Mr Goldsborough’s demands. Mr Catchpole, who describes himself as retired from the home improvement and property investment sectors, unseated a Conservative incumbent in his election victory.
