Reform county councillor Anthony Owen has hit back at a series of allegations made against him in an online post.
He stresses that all the claims made against him are false and that the allegations have already been investigated by the county council and officials from Reform.
He has vowed not to be pushed out of the council or the party, as a result of what he describes as a “witch hunt”.
“I have never experienced bullying before,” said retired engineer Cllr Owen, aged 61.
“It’s a witch hunt – and they want to get rid of me. But I’m sticking with Reform.”
The allegations against Cllr Owen (Reform, Goffs Oak and Bury Green) have been circulating informally for some time.
They have been previously reported to Hertfordshire County Council, Reform and Hertfordshire Constabulary – who have all found no evidence of wrongdoing.
But they came to the fore earlier this month when they were published on social media.
The online post alleged that Cllr Owen had “forged” Tony Hill’s signature on an electoral nomination form.
It claimed that following the election, he had been posing as that councillor by using his council computer.
It also alleged that he had held a fundraiser for the Reform Party, but had not handed over the funds to the local Broxbourne branch.
Cllr Owen has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the allegations against him are “malicious” and untrue.
He says he has proof that he didn’t sign Cllr Hill’s nomination papers – and that he has never accessed Cllr Hill’s council laptop, which is protected by county council security.
He has, he says – at the request of county council officials – conducted some highways business on behalf of Cllr Hill, though always as himself and not as Cllr Hill.
And that’s because personal issues prevented Cllr Hill – who has since resigned – from carrying out the duties.
Meanwhile, Cllr Owen says £650 was raised for Reform through a fundraising event locally, which was passed to Reform nationally.
Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the allegations have been considered by the authority, with no action taken.
“We have assessed these allegations and concluded that none warrant further investigation or action,” said the spokesperson.
And following an LDRS enquiry about the allegations pertaining to the signing of the nomination papers and posing as another councillor, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Officers have reviewed information relating to an allegation of an offence under the Representation of the People Act.
"Following specialist legal advice, no evidence of a crime under the Act has been established at this time, nor any viable lines of further enquiry".
“As a result, no investigation has been launched at this stage.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Reform has also confirmed that they have investigated the allegations – and found them to be “entirely false”.
“Reform UK fully investigated these claims and found them to be entirely false and completely lacking in evidence,” they said.
Earlier this week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that council officials sent a letter to the leaders of all political groups outlining the allegations against Cllr Owen – and their findings.
Leader of the Reform group on the county council, Cllr Doug Bainbridge (Reform, Stevenage), says he never doubted that the claims were untrue.
The former police officer admits that members, including Cllr Owen, who have had allegations made against them, have been under extreme pressure.
But he says that ultimately the experience has made the Reform group locally stronger.
“Now we are just moving on and moving up,” he said. “We have some very good talent in our group, with life experience.
“We have a pool of extraordinary talent, which hopefully in the next 12 months will hold the council to even tighter standards.”
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