Reform UK Hampshire Leader Charged With 12 Counts of Rape

The Crown Prosecution Service has charged George Madgwick, who led Reform UK's group on Hampshire county council, with 12 counts of rape and one of distributing an indecent image of a child. He says he is innocent.

From independent councillor to group leader

Madgwick, 37, won a seat on Portsmouth city council as an independent in 2021. He joined Reform in 2025. A year later he became a Hampshire councillor for North East Havant, one of 20 Reform members elected. That put the party third, behind the ruling Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

He became leader of the Reform group and chair of the council's corporate services and resources select committee.

He was also a prominent voice in recent protests in Portsmouth over asylum seekers arriving on small boats. In September he was at the scene and spoke to the media when masked protesters blocked roads. More recently he liaised with staff at a Portsmouth hotel and persuaded protesters to leave after they mistook Pakistan's under-19 cricket team for asylum seekers.

Thirteen charge types, four complainants

The CPS said the charges follow a police investigation into allegations from four complainants, aged 16 and 17 at the time. Alleged offences span 2008 to 2021, in Portsmouth and in Wales. An arrest was made at an address in Wandsworth, London, on 6 January.

The list goes well beyond rape. It includes eight counts of actual bodily harm, two of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault and two of controlling and coercive behaviour. There are also two counts of making an indecent image of a child, and one each of stalking, making threats to kill, false imprisonment, criminal damage, theft, and causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

Madgwick is due at Portsmouth magistrates court on 25 November.

Reactions

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson called the charges "truly shocking". She demanded that Nigel Farage say whether he knew of the arrest or the allegations. If he did, she asked, why did he think it appropriate for Madgwick to stand for the party, hold a local leadership role and work as a Reform member of staff?

A Reform spokesperson said Madgwick had been suspended from the party with immediate effect.

On X, Madgwick said he was "shocked and dismayed" and unequivocally innocent. He said he had resigned as Reform leader on the county council and would continue as an independent until cleared. He would make no further statement and would deactivate his social media.

The CPS reminded everyone that proceedings are now active and that the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It asked that nothing be published or shared that could prejudice the case.

Our View

The charges are allegations, and nothing has been tested in court. Politically, the open question is Labour's demand about what Reform leaders knew and when. The party's statement says only that Madgwick has been suspended.

Source: the Guardian