New St Helens Reform councillor who made adult films quits

A Reform UK councillor has resigned within a week of being elected over the "immense pressure" he has faced since it emerged he had appeared in adult films. Stephen Mousdell won in the Haydock ward on St Helens Council on 8 May, but said he had not been in the "right mental state" after his pornographic work came to light. He said he had been told to "apologise" and stop the work to remain a councillor, but had refused because he had "done no wrongdoing", adding: "There is no shame of it and I am proud to be a gay individual in this community". Reform UK said it was "a sad state of affairs that a media witch hunt has hounded an elected official out of office because of his private life". There is no suggestion that Mousdell has broken any laws and he said in his resignation statement that he had complied with social media policies and the UK Online Safety Act in his postings on social media and on paid subscription website OnlyFans. "Recently, things have come out with regard to myself and my partner," he said. "We have always been transparent about it and not ashamed of what we do." However, he said his partner was "my soul mate and my rock". "I can't put him through any more pain