A 22-year-old Reform UK councillor has been accused of electoral malpractice after he is said to have given away free ice creams outside a polling station on a local election day.
Footage captured in May showed Councillor Joseph Boam, former deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, allegedly passing out free ice creams from a reportedly family owned van during Reform UK’s local election campaign.
Mr Boam, who declared ‘this is just the beginning’ following his appointment, left both his deputy leader and adult social care cabinet role last month.
Now, Leicestershire Police have confirmed that it has received a third-party report about the van’s proximity to the polling station.
A spokesperson for the force told Leicestershire Live that officers are now assessing whether the incident could constitute being treated under electoral malpractice laws.
The Electoral Commission states that, under electoral law, an offence is committed if an individual gives or provides any meat, drink, entertainment or provision to anyone with the purpose of influencing that person to either vote or refrain from voting.
It comes after council leader Dan Harrison claimed that Mr Boam had been removed from his two positions as he ‘wasn’t able to do the job’.
Councillor Harrison told the BBC that Mr Boam had spoken to him about experiencing ‘difficulties’ with the job, and had found the responsibilities ‘too much’ to handle.
Footage captured in May showed Councillor Joseph Boam (pictured), former deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, allegedly passing out free ice creams from a reportedly family owned van while embarking on Reform UK’s local election campaign
Mr Boam, who declared ‘this is just the beginning’ following his appointment, left both his deputy leader and adult social care cabinet role last month
Pictured: Joseph Boam with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police told Leicestershire Live that officers are now assessing whether the incident involving Mr Boam could constitute being treated under electoral malpractice laws
However, Mr Boam denied such accusations, adding that he had not agreed to his sudden removal.
Following the decision, he insisted in a Facebook post that ‘nothing’s changed’ and that he would ‘keep fighting’ for his constituents in Whitwick.
‘Despite the recent news, nothing’s changed, I’ll keep fighting for Whitwick at County Hall and doing everything I can to help get a Reform UK government and Nigel Farage as our next prime minister,’ he wrote.
He said: ‘I am no longer deputy leader or in cabinet, but have been offered a cabinet support role which I’m inclined to take.’
Mr Boam later posted a picture of himself sitting at a pub with two of his ‘good friends’ with a turquoise ‘Make Britain Great Again’ baseball cap positioned on the table.
He followed this up with another picture where he is seen holding a pint of lemonade. Mr Boam captioned the post ‘cheers’.
At the time, the leader of the main opposition to the authority, Ms Taylor, said in a statement released on social media that the Reform-led council is delivering a ‘shambles’.
She said: ‘The Reform Administration at Leicestershire County Council has lacked leadership and direction from the very start.
It comes after council leader Dan Harrison (pictured) claimed that Mr Boam had been removed from his two positions as he ‘wasn’t able to do the job’. Councillor Harrison told the BBC that Mr Boam had spoken to him about experiencing ‘difficulties’ with the job
‘Frankly, he was wholly unqualified for such a critical role and lacked the experience or judgment to bring anything of value to the position.
‘Adult Social Care and Communities is one of the most important and challenging portfolios in local government.
‘It requires steady hands, long-term commitment and a depth of understanding.
‘What it has been given instead is instability, poor judgment, and revolving-door appointments.
‘At a time when Leicestershire needs stability, vision, and experienced leadership more than ever, residents are being served a plate of chaos.
‘Reform promised change, what they’re delivering is a shambles.’
Mr Boam denied such accusations, adding that he had not agreed to his removal. The leader of the main opposition to the authority, Ms Taylor, said in a statement released on social media that Mr Boam ‘was wholly unqualified for such a critical role and lacked the experience’
A Reform UK source said at the time of Mr Boam’s removal from the positions: ‘Joseph deserves thanks for his role in helping to establish the Reform Group at Leicestershire County Council and we wish him well as he moves into a new role where he will continue to support the group’s efforts at County Hall.’
Reform won 25 out of the 55 seats on the council and formed a minority administration after the local elections in May, taking control from the Conservatives.
At 22 years old, Mr Boam was not the youngest Reform councillor to have held a senior county council position, with 19-year-old George Finch currently the leader of Warwickshire County Council.
Mr Boam was approached for comment. A Reform UK spokesperson declined to comment.
