Full Breakdown
Reform UK Councillor Jay Cooper’s Controversial Social-Media Record
5/9/2026, 5:00:19 AM
Core Event: A Wave of Conspiracy-Themed and Politically Charged Posts
In early 2024, Councillor Jay Cooper, the Reform UK representative for Bootle West, repeatedly used his personal social-media accounts to share material that linked the Labour government to violent incidents, promoted Holocaust denial, amplified 9/11 and Titan-submersible conspiracy videos, and advocated for NHS privatisation. The posts spanned from a February poll map questioning Labour support in Liverpool to a June repost of a Unilad article about the Titan tragedy, each accompanied by commentary that framed mainstream events as distractions or evidence of governmental failure.
Background & Context: Reform UK and Local Political Dynamics
Reform UK, a right-leaning party that opposes Labour’s policies, fields candidates in local elections across Merseyside. Cooper, elected as a councillor for Bootle West, has used his platform to challenge Labour’s handling of public safety, health care, and immigration. The controversy emerges amid heightened partisan tension in Liverpool, where Labour traditionally dominates municipal politics.
Key Figures & Groups
- Jay Cooper – Councillor for Bootle West, Reform UK candidate.
- Labour Party – Governing party in the UK, referenced by Cooper as responsible for the Southport attack and school safety concerns.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – Featured in a manipulated image posted by Cooper.
- Green Party – Implicated by Cooper in a post linking the party to mental-health patients.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Cited by Cooper’s shared videos to dispute the thermite theory, though NIST has rejected it.
- Scottish Sun – Source of a knife-attack video reposted by Cooper; the paper is boycotted on Merseyside over its Hillsborough coverage.
Data & Statistics: Topics Highlighted in Cooper’s Posts
| Topic | Frequency in Source Material |
|---|---|
| Holocaust denial claim | 1 post (image caption) |
| 9/11 conspiracy videos | 2 videos (January 2024, earlier April) |
| Titan submersible implosion commentary | 1 repost (June 2023) |
| NHS privatisation advocacy | 2 posts (Daily Mail article, Tristan Tate video) |
| School-safety hoax warnings | 1 post (March 2024) |
| Anti-Labour election commentary | 2 posts (February poll map, March hijab image) |
Official Statements & Responses
Reform UK has publicly asserted that it does not intend to privatise the National Health Service, distancing the party from Cooper’s statements that “the thing needs [to be] privatised” and “If people had to pay for it they wouldn’t abuse it.” The party’s position contrasts with Cooper’s individual endorsements of private-health-care solutions.
Criticism & Opposition
Local media outlets, including the Liverpool Echo, have highlighted Cooper’s pattern of sharing misinformation and extremist rhetoric. Critics note that his repost of a Scottish Sun video occurs despite the paper’s boycott on Merseyside for its coverage of the Hillsborough disaster, underscoring broader community repudiation of sources deemed unreliable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These polls have got to be wrong about Liverpool. How are people in the (sic) right mind still thinking it's acceptable to vote for Labour? The three young girls in Southport slaughtered by the hands of Labour should have been the turning point. Makes me ashamed to be from Liverpool.” — Jay Cooper, Facebook post
- “Wonder what they are trying to distract us from now,” — Jay Cooper, comment on Titan submersible article
- “All too common. The thing needs [to be] privatised.” — Jay Cooper, repost of Daily Mail story on a misdiagnosed tumour
- “If people had to pay for it they wouldn't abuse it.” — Jay Cooper, comment on Tristan Tate video about NHS reform
- “Blame the Labour government, go and take your kids from schools. Keep them off. Someone messaged to tell me it's a hoax. I am not stupid, of course it is a hoax, but it gives people ideas. The schools are no longer safe...if you are stupid, send your kids to school.” — Jay Cooper, Facebook post
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Cooper’s explicit support for NHS privatisation conflicts with Reform UK’s official denial of any privatisation agenda. Additionally, while Cooper shares conspiracy videos that claim official investigations (e.g., NIST’s rejection of the thermite theory) are false, the sources do not provide evidence to substantiate his counter-claims, leaving a factual gap between party policy and individual rhetoric.
What’s Next: Potential Party Action and Electoral Implications
Reform UK faces internal pressure to address Cooper’s social-media conduct before the upcoming local elections. Party officials may consider disciplinary measures or public clarification to mitigate reputational damage, while Labour and other opposition groups are likely to cite the posts as evidence of extremist tendencies within Reform UK’s candidate pool.
