The short version
- Humberside police are investigating Reform UK mayor Luke Campbell for allegedly showing explicit images to a female staff member.
- The accused denies the claims, labeling them as part of a meritless workplace dispute by a disgruntled employee seeking leverage.
- The case emerges alongside broader scrutiny of Reform UK members following an undercover investigation into racist remarks by party affiliates.
Luke Campbell, the mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire and a former Olympic boxing champion, is currently under police investigation regarding allegations that he shared explicit images with a female colleague. Humberside police reportedly questioned Campbell under caution earlier this month. While authorities have not arrested him in connection with these claims, the inquiry marks a significant development for the Reform UK politician, who was elected to his position last May.
The allegations center on an incident that allegedly occurred in May. According to documents submitted during an internal grievance procedure at the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (Heyca), Campbell showed a senior female colleague four fully naked and sexualized images of himself. The woman described feeling shocked, embarrassed, and humiliated by the encounter. She further claimed that she was forced out of her job shortly after the incident, despite having accepted an offer for a permanent role while working as a contractor.
Witness testimony provides additional context to the alleged misconduct. One document corroborated by reporting outlets indicates that Campbell called the complainant over to a computer screen where the images were displayed. A separate witness reported seeing Campbell and two male colleagues ushering a female officer to look at a laptop displaying an image of a naked man with a tattoo. This second employee noted feeling uneasy during the interaction and recalled comments being made about the tattoo, which Campbell allegedly lifted his shirt to display.
Campbell has firmly denied the allegations through Reform UK spokespeople. The party characterized the claims as originating from a disgruntled employee attempting to leverage a settlement in what they describe as a meritless workplace dispute. A spokesperson for Heyca confirmed that a police investigation is underway and emphasized that the combined authority maintains standards processes and complaints procedures designed to handle such matters fairly and independently.
The timing of these allegations coincides with heightened scrutiny of Reform UK following a year-long undercover investigation by ITV. That probe uncovered racist comments made by several Reform UK councillors and a prospective member of parliament. In one instance, an aspiring MP was suspended after telling an undercover reporter that Muslims could not be British and suggesting asylum seekers crossing the English Channel should be placed in concentration camps.
Nigel Farage’s party responded to the broader controversy by stating it had opened investigations where activists or members had clearly behaved inappropriately. Party leadership asserted there is no room for racism within its ranks. This stance contrasts with the defense offered by Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative minister and current Reform UK member, who attempted to mitigate the severity of the allegations against Campbell.
Dorries claimed that the image described as sexualized was actually a 2013 magazine cover featuring Campbell posing naked from the waist up after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics. However, this explanation appears inconsistent with witness testimony submitted to Heyca. The complainant stated she was deliberately exposed to multiple naked and sexualized images without her consent and was laughed at when she showed visible embarrassment.
Furthermore, details regarding the visual content contradict Dorries’ defense. A separate witness noted that one of the images displayed on the laptop featured a naked man with a tattoo. No such tattoo is visible on the magazine front cover cited by Dorries. The main complainant described the conduct as unwanted and sexual in nature, arguing it violated her dignity and created a humiliating, degrading, and offensive working environment.
Approximately three weeks after the alleged incident, the female officer was informed via a Teams call that her offer of permanent employment had been withdrawn. This timeline has fueled claims of retaliation or forced resignation linked to the grievance. Humberside police have been contacted for further comment regarding the status and scope of their investigation into Campbell’s conduct.
As the legal and administrative processes unfold, the case highlights ongoing tensions within local government bodies regarding workplace standards and accountability. The Heyca spokesperson reiterated that all complaints must be handled through established fair and independent channels. The outcome of the police inquiry may have significant implications for Campbell’s political career and the broader reputation of Reform UK in the region.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Police investigate Reform mayor for allegedly sharing ‘naked and sexualised’ images of himself
