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Reform UK Councillor Joel Tetlow is under intense pressure to resign after sharing a now-deleted meme depicting Adolf Hitler on his official Facebook page. The post, which appeared during VE Day anniversary week, seemingly compared small boat crossings in the English Channel to Hitler's invasion of Europe.
The meme, captioned "Why don't we invade them slowly? A few men at a time in small boats," was followed by Tetlow's comment: "Let's be grateful this idea was never put to him. Or the world as we know it would be a whole lot different."
The post ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Labour MPs Sarah Smith and Chris Webb publicly condemning the meme and calling for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to immediately suspend Tetlow. Smith stated that sharing such imagery during the VE Day commemorations was "utterly abhorrent."
Initially, Reform UK did not suspend Tetlow. In a statement to Sky News, Tetlow defended his post, claiming he did not "mean any disrespect" to soldiers who fought in World War II. He stated his intention was to liken the small boat crossings to an "invasion," referencing the Trojan Horse. He also mentioned that Reform UK had asked him to remove the post, which he did.
However, this is not the first time Tetlow's social media activity has come under scrutiny. In April 2025, he was criticized for sharing far-right content on his Facebook page, including posts from the British Democrats. Opposition parties in Hyndburn called for his suspension at that time as well.
Tetlow was elected as a Lancashire County Councillor for Accrington North on May 2, 2025, securing a significant majority. His election came despite previous concerns about his social media activity.
The controversy surrounding Tetlow's post comes at a sensitive time, with Reform UK gaining traction in recent local elections. Scottish National Party leader John Swinney recently warned of a "very real possibility" of Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister, highlighting the growing influence of Reform UK in British politics.
The incident raises serious questions about Reform UK's vetting process for candidates and the party's stance on inflammatory rhetoric. The calls for Tetlow's resignation continue to mount, and the party faces increasing pressure to take decisive action.
