A REFORM UK meeting which was set to take place at a Wirral location was cancelled due to alleged threats being made.

On Tuesday, June 18 party members had planned to meet at the Millennium Centre in Leasowe at 7pm.

However, after rumours of protests and fears for safety, David Robert Burgess-Joyce, candidate for the Reform Party in Wallasey, cancelled the meeting.

Cllr Burgess-Joyce told the Globe: “At around 4.30pm I got a phone call from a reliable source on the Leasowe estate that there was quite a bit of chatter happening on WhatsApp and on X about some concerns about a ‘bunch of Tories’ having a meeting at the Millennium Centre so obviously that was wrong because its reform but anyway I thought ok fair enough we’ll be careful and keep an eye out.”

At around 5.15pm Burgess-Joyce received another phone call from a colleague who lives on the estate.

He said: “They said they had also picked up on some vibes from people. There was never any threats against me personally but there were threats of people attending so I thought at least if there were no threats to people there could be damage to vehicles so I decided having spoken with the police it would be a good idea to cancel it.

“When you get two reliable sources telling you these things you do think there could be credibility to it so that was the decision I took and I don’t regret it because god forbid anything happened to anyone.

“If someone had got hurt and found out I knew about it wouldn’t go down well and in fairness the council have been really good and have found us an alternative place for our next meeting.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm on Tuesday 18 June we received a report that a political meeting was cancelled by the organisers which was planned to take place that evening at the Millennium Centre in Leasowe.

“It was reported that protests were planned to take place at the location and threats were made at people attending the event.

“Following concerns the organiser decided to cancel the meeting and reported it to us.

“Officers attended the location and can confirm no incidents occurred.”

In Wallasey, there are seven candidates standing with Angela Eagle, who has been the area’s MP since 1992, seeking re-election as the Labour Party candidate. 

They are: 

Workers Party of Britain, Philip Bimpson

Reform UK, David Burgess-Joyce

Liberal Democrat, Vicky Downie

Labour, Angela Eagle

Conservative, Robbie Lammas

Freedom Alliance, Ian Pugh

Green, Jane Turner