Stephan Dransfield is one of three newly-elected Reform UK councillors to the Colne Valley West ward
Stephan (Stefan) Dransfield is one of three newly-elected councillors for the Colne Valley West ward (Image: Kirklees Council / Facebook)
A council in Yorkshire has been forced to reiterate its code of conduct after a newly-elected Reform UK councillor described an Asian man being assaulted as “very satisfying”.
Kirklees Council has issued a response after the councillor appeared to have shared a racist post of an Asian man being brutally punched in the face on his social media.
Stephan (Stefan) Dransfield is one of three newly elected Reform UK councillors for the Colne Valley West ward on Kirklees Council. Yet screenshots of his social media activity over six years ago appear to depict him sharing posts with racist undertones.
The social media post – shared under the name of Stefan Dransfield to Facebook on March 28, 2020 – depicts an Asian man being punched aggressively in the face. The post’s caption read “very satisfying” and was made after sharing the video.
Kirklees Council has stated councillors are “required to comply” with the Council’s Code of Conduct following their election, but the posts were made prior to Dransfield’s appointment.
A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “Councillors are required to comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct when acting in their capacity as elected members. The unverified screenshots in question appear to be from posts made prior to the individual being elected as a councillor and before they were subject to the Code of Conduct.”
The Kirklees Council Code of Conduct explicitly requires councillors to promote equality and strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of race. Under these rules, members must treat all individuals with respect and lead by example to maintain public confidence in the council’s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach toward racism.
Stephan Dransfield and the Reform UK Colne Valley West ward were both contacted regarding the posts.
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