Whitwick councillor told to 'educate himself' about depression - as Reform candidate hits back at Tories
By Local Democracy Reporting Service
A new North West Leicestershire Reform UK councillor has been told to "educate himself" - after a post appearing on an account on X in his name claiming "depression isn't real" resurfaced online.
The post, which was shared by X account Reform Party UK Exposed, allegedly quotes Joseph Boam expressing his views on the illness, including telling people they will "always be depressed" if their "life is depressing", and that sufferers should "fix it".
Reform Party UK Exposed said the message was posted in December 2022 under the account name 'Lord Joseph Boam II'. In response, the 22-year-old councillor has branded the allegation "fake news" and a "political smear", and said he was focused on "delivering for the people [he] was elected to serve".
However, the Leicestershire Conservative Group has now publicly called for Cllr Boam to "educate himself on mental health matters" and to "understand how big an issue this is to people in Leicestershire".
The group added: "Depression is real, its effects can be devastating and all those suffering from it deserve our support, not our dismissal."
But the Reform candidate for Coalville North, Elliot Allman, has already responded on social media following the criticisms of Cllr Boam.
Mr Allman, who is now deputy chairman of the Reform UK branch in North West Leicestershire, posted on Thursday: "The Conservatives making complaints about mental health locally, when all they did all campaign to me was openly take the p*** out of my appearance, known medical conditions, health and wellbeing.
"Any idea how much stress that put on me, on my family and my loved ones?
"My Tory rival was an absolute bully and thug during the campaign.
"Week in week out. On social media and in weekly newsletters.
"They are absolutely desperate for any form of attention or headline."
In addition to representing Whitwick on Leicestershire County Council, Cllr Boam is also the new lead member for adult social care and deputy leader of the authority.
Among its responsibilities, the adult social care team seeks to support and safeguard vulnerable adults, including those with physical and mental health concerns.
The tweet on the Lord Joseph Boam II account reads: "Depression isn't real. You feel sad, you continue with life because there's no alternative. You will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Fix it."
The Leicestershire Conservative Group said: "Depression affects millions of people in this country every year. The strength it takes to come forward and seek help for that is immense and we have huge admiration for everyone who does so.
"We as a society, tragically, see far too often the effect depression and other mental health conditions can have, with suicide being the single biggest killer of people under the age of 35 in this country. 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 from it deserve our support, not our dismissal. We therefore call on Joseph Boam to educate himself on mental health matters and to understand how big an issue this is to people in Leicestershire."
Cllr Boam told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I won't be engaging with fake news or political smears.
"My focus remains on delivering for the people I was elected to serve."
Reform UK became the largest party on the authority at the local elections at the start of May, taking 25 of the 55 seats on offer.
The Conservatives, who had run the authority continuously for the past two decades, went from 42 seats in 2021 to 15, and is now the main opposition. Cllr Boam was elected as the member for Whitwick with 1,601 votes.
• Additonal reporting, Graham Hill
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