A Reform UK councillor on Swindon Borough Council has been suspended after he was charged with a number of criminal offences.
Lawrence Davies faces four serious allegations following an incident outside The Kingsdown pub in Kingsdown Road on 13 April.
The 54-year-old, of The Street, Moredon, has been charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.
He has also been charged with being a driver of a vehicle involved in a collision and failing to report that collision and driving without insurance – relating to the same incident.
Wiltshire Police confirmed that Davies has been bailed to appear before Swindon Magistrates Court on 24 September for a first hearing.
The news comes just hours after the councillor told news website Swindon 24 that he’d resigned from Reform UK over how their politicians are being told to vote and the use of AI.
He said: “I am no longer confident in the way the party is governed.
“I have been a long-standing Reform voter and campaigner, but I cannot with clear conscience continue to fight for Reform UK in Swindon when members are told how to vote and what to say by their officers and whip and every question and every speech is rewritten with AI.”
However, Reform UK revealed that the real reason behind his departure was a suspension imposed by the party over his criminal charges – before his faux standing down announcement.
A national spokesperson said: “These are false accusations made by an individual who has a track record for dishonesty.
“The reality is that Cllr Davies was suspended from Reform UK yesterday after he was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop, failing to report and driving without insurance.
“We understand that he is due to appear in court in September.”
Davies has been approached for comment.
