Reform councillor sanctioned for multiple conduct breaches

The second complaint against Boam, who represents Whitwick, was made by Ozzy O’Shea, who was the Conservative cabinet member for highways and transport before Reform took control of the council in May 2025.

O’Shea alleged Boam “unfairly and inaccurately” blamed him for the rerouting of bus services down Church Lane in Whitwick in Facebook posts, which included an AI-generated caricature of the Tory councillor.

The meeting was told O’Shea had nothing to do with the decision, which emerged after the election and was a commercial decision by bus firm Arriva.

The panel concluded Boam knew, or should have known, that was the case.

Boam told council officials he did not knowingly publish false information or act in bad faith and said his comments reflected his “genuinely held understanding of political responsibility” for the circumstances leading to the rerouting of the buses.

However, Oram said Boam had gone beyond expressing opinions and had claimed anyone who challenged him was lying.

Boam had tried to misdirect public anger for political advantage, Oram said, and had never accepted what he posted was inaccurate.

The panel dismissed an allegation Boam had harassed O’Shea but ruled he had failed to treat him with respect, and also had brought the council into disrepute.

It also said Boam’s failure to cooperate with the investigations and non-attendance at the panels were a breach of the code that had “contributed to a waste of public resources”.

The panel unanimously censured Boam and said he should make written apologies to both Haslam and O’Shea within 14 days.

The panel has also recommended that Reform UK council leader Dan Harrison and group whip Andrew Hamilton-Gray remove Boam from two committees on which he sits until May 2027.

The BBC understands Harrison will consider what steps to take at a Reform Group meeting on Tuesday.