Reform councillor arrested over election papers

A Reform UK council group leader has been arrested by police on suspicion of making false statements in nomination papers.

Ryan Coogan was elected to represent the Ramsey ward on Huntingdonshire District Council in the local elections on 7 May, when Reform became the third-largest party at the authority.

Cambridgeshire Police said: "A 42-year-old man from Waterbeach was arrested on 24 September on suspicion of making false statements in nomination papers. He has since been released on bail to return to Milton Police Station on 22 December."

Coogan told the BBC he had "always been and will continue to be happy to help police with their inquiries".

He said he "cannot comment on this [investigation] as I have still not been informed what the actual detail of the alleged issue or crime or other supposedly is".

Reform has been asked for comment while Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) said: "As this is an ongoing police investigation, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further at this stage."

Coogan had also been the party's candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election in 2025, finishing second.

Earlier in September, when asked about the police investigation, he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "It's hard to know what they're investigating… I asked the police what they're actually investigating and they wouldn't tell me, so I have no idea about that and I can only assume that at some point something will happen or something won't happen."

In response to that, police said: "We are investigating Ryan following an allegation of false statements on a candidate nomination paper at May's HDC elections. Investigation remains ongoing."

The nature of the alleged false statements has not been made public.

On his website, Coogan, who has more than 70,000 followers on Facebook, said he started his first business at 12, exporting toys.

"Most notably he developed, pioneered and marketed a biotech product which led direct research to find the solution to the MRSA superbug outbreak in hospitals, saving thousands and potentially millions of lives," it said.

Since his election, Coogan has been appointed to a number of council roles, including the corporate governance committee.

Reform won its first councillors on the authority in May's elections. The council is Liberal Democrat-led in a minority coalition alongside independents.

According to the Electoral Commission, the penalties for a false statement on a nomination paper in England and Wales include an unlimited fine or up to one year's imprisonment.

Candidates must submit three nomination papers prior to standing; the nomination form, a home address form and consent to nomination.

The papers require information including the candidate's details and the address or addresses which qualify them to stand in that area.

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.