An exclusive from The Leicester Gazette and Left Foot Forward reveals how social media accounts linked to Joseph Boam led to the deputy council leader in Leicester becoming an ex-deputy council leader.
Joseph Boam, the former deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, has been found to have shared homophobic, sexist and Islamophobic content online, according to a Leicester Gazette investigation.
The discovery comes only months after Reform UK seized control of the council, unexpectedly ousting the Conservatives after two decades in power. Boam, 22, joined Reform last year after leaving the Conservative Party, citing “local corruption” as his reason. His father, Russell Boam, remains a Tory councillor in North West Leicestershire.
Offensive Posts and Andrew Tate Praise
Social media accounts linked to Boam – under aliases including BoamytheBeast, Sub2JoeBoam, JoeBoam02, and Lord Joseph Boam II – contain numerous offensive posts.
- In one leaked Discord message, verified as Boam’s by the Gazette, he referred to another user as a “fat fucking pansexual immigrant.”
- In 2020, he responded to a discussion on offensive jokes by sharing an image of a Muslim girl dressed as Harley Quinn, captioned: “When you’re part of the real suicide squad.”
- He dismissed depression as “not real,” writing: “You feel sad, you continue with life because there’s no alternative.” Though he later walked back his comments on Facebook, claiming he was only criticising “fake claims” of illness, the remarks drew sharp condemnation.
- On multiple occasions, Boam praised Andrew Tate, the self-styled “Top G” currently facing charges of rape, human trafficking and organised 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, seen by the Gazette, he told a female user to “Get back in the kitchen” during an unrelated dispute.
Political Fallout
The revelations have sparked strong reactions across Leicestershire politics.
Deborah Taylor, leader of the Conservative opposition group, said in a statement:
“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, added:
“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.”
Reform UK had previously promised to thoroughly vet its candidates. Leader Nigel Farage claimed the party’s checks were “as good if not better” than other parties. Yet, as a Hope Not Hate investigation and the Gazette’s reporting have shown, several Reform councillors have histories of extremist or discriminatory comments online.
Removal from Leadership Role
In May, Boam was elected councillor for the Whitwick division and quickly rose to become deputy leader of the council’s Reform administration, as well as chair of the party’s North West Leicestershire branch.
However, only three months later, he has been quietly removed from his position. A Reform party source told the Gazette this was due to “inner machinations” within the group, and insisted it was not connected to wrongdoing.
Boam has also lost his cabinet post overseeing adult social care, a sensitive portfolio given his past remarks on mental health. He has instead been offered a lesser role providing cabinet support.
Boam himself said:
“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.”
When pressed on whether he had been sacked, he refused to comment.
Denials and Defiance
Throughout the controversy, Boam has branded the allegations “fake news” and denied that some of the accounts belong to him, despite independent verification.
In a recent statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he 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.”
But the revelations continue to cast a shadow over both his personal credibility and Reform UK’s candidate vetting.
Dorset Eye has found that Reform UK, despite assuring the public regarding their vetting procedures, is having to suspend and ban members and officials almost daily as their vile behaviour is exposed:
Why the corporate media is not all over this can only be left to those who can see the wood for the trees. That they are behind the campaign to bring the neoliberal, pro-privatisation political party to power and do not want the public to see the true face of evil that they represent.
