Joseph Boam’s meteoric rise and equally swift fall from grace as deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council have sent shockwaves through local politics, raising uncomfortable questions about party vetting, online conduct, and the standards expected of public officials. According to an exclusive investigation by The Leicester Gazette and Left Foot Forward, Boam, just 22 years old, was found to have shared a series of homophobic, sexist, and Islamophobic posts across multiple social media accounts—posts that have now cost him his leadership position and ignited a firestorm of controversy across Leicestershire.
Boam’s journey began with a bold leap: after leaving the Conservative Party last year, citing what he described as “local corruption,” he joined Reform UK, a party that would soon make a historic breakthrough in the May 2025 local elections. Reform UK, led nationally by Nigel Farage, seized control of Leicestershire County Council from the Conservatives for the first time in two decades, winning 25 of the authority’s 55 seats. Boam was elected as the councillor for Whitwick and, within days, was appointed both deputy leader of the council’s new Reform administration and cabinet member for adult social care.
But the celebrations were short-lived. Just three months after his appointment, Boam was quietly removed from both his deputy leadership and cabinet roles. The official line from Reform UK sources, as reported by LeicestershireLive, was that Boam was moving into a “new role” at County Hall in Glenfield, possibly as a cabinet support member. Boam himself insisted, “I haven’t stepped down from any role. I am no longer deputy leader or in cabinet, but have been offered a cabinet support role which I’m inclined to take.” He refused to comment on whether he had been sacked, further fueling speculation about the true nature of his departure.
The real catalyst for Boam’s ouster appears to be the damning revelations about his online activity. According to The Leicester Gazette, investigators linked Boam to several social media aliases—including BoamytheBeast, Sub2JoeBoam, JoeBoam02, and Lord Joseph Boam II—through which he posted a litany of offensive content. In one leaked Discord message, verified by the Gazette, Boam referred to another user as a “fat fucking pansexual immigrant.” In another instance, he shared an image of a Muslim girl dressed as Harley Quinn, captioned: “When you’re part of the real suicide squad.”
Boam’s online behavior didn’t stop there. He dismissed depression as “not real,” declaring, “You feel sad, you continue with life because there’s no alternative.” Though he later attempted to walk back these remarks on Facebook—claiming he was only criticizing “fake claims” of illness—the damage was done. His comments drew sharp condemnation from local politicians and mental health advocates alike. Deborah Taylor, leader of the Conservative opposition group, stated, “Depression affects millions of people in this country every year… We are therefore deeply disappointed to read the comments from the new lead member for adults and communities. Depression is real, its effects can be devastating and all those suffering deserve support, not dismissal.”
Michael Mullaney, leader of the Liberal Democrats, echoed those concerns, telling The Leicester Gazette: “Leicestershire County Council has a £600 million budget and responsibility for vital services. People in senior positions must have good judgement. These views are very concerning and many people will find them unacceptable.”
Adding further fuel to the fire, Boam expressed admiration for Andrew Tate, the self-styled “Top G” who is currently facing charges of rape, human trafficking, and organized crime. In one post, Boam wrote: “Join me on Rumble as I summon my inner Andrew Tate and evolve into The Top G.” In a private message, he told a female user to “Get back in the kitchen” during an unrelated dispute. These posts, independently verified and widely circulated, have cast a long shadow over Boam’s personal credibility and the reputation of Reform UK.
Throughout the ordeal, Boam has remained defiant, branding the allegations as “fake news” and denying that some of the accounts belong to him—despite independent verification to the contrary. In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Boam said, “I won’t be engaging with fake news or political smears. My focus remains on delivering for the people I was elected to serve.” He has also vowed to “keep fighting” for Reform UK’s cause, stating, “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.”
Reform UK, for its part, has tried to downplay the controversy. A party source told LeicestershireLive: “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.” However, the party’s assurances about its candidate vetting procedures—touted by Nigel Farage as “as good if not better” than those of other parties—have come under intense scrutiny. Investigations by Hope Not Hate and The Leicester Gazette have uncovered a pattern of Reform councillors with histories of extremist or discriminatory comments online, forcing the party to suspend or ban members and officials on an almost daily basis.
The fallout from Boam’s removal has been swift and divisive. Conservatives have labeled the episode a “shambles,” while some Reform supporters have accused the media of orchestrating a smear campaign. Yet, as Dorset Eye observed, the mainstream press has been surprisingly muted in its coverage, prompting questions about why such a high-profile scandal has not attracted more national attention. Some critics suggest that sections of the media may be reluctant to scrutinize Reform UK too closely, given the party’s growing influence and its neoliberal, pro-privatization stance.
For now, Boam remains a councillor for Whitwick, albeit in a diminished capacity. Reform UK’s grip on Leicestershire County Council, won in a historic upset, now faces renewed questions about leadership, accountability, and the values it brings to public service. As the dust settles, the episode stands as a cautionary tale about the perils of online conduct, the limits of party vetting, and the importance of integrity in public life.
The story of Joseph Boam’s rise and fall is far from over, but one thing is clear: Leicestershire politics will be feeling the aftershocks for some time to come.
