Mayor Luke Campbell has ‘serious questions to answer’, say Hull Lib Dems

DENIES ALLEGATIONS: Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) Mayor Luke Campbell

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Hull Liberal Democrats say Mayor Luke Campbell and Reform UK have “serious questions to answer” following reports of a police investigation into his alleged conduct towards a female employee.

The Observer reported that Reform UK Mayor Campbell is under investigation over allegations he showed a female member of staff at Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) “naked and sexualised” images of himself. Mayor Campbell denies the allegations.

The Observer reports that the woman was working as a contractor and had accepted a permanent role before that offer was withdrawn after the incident. Documents detailing the claims have been submitted as part of a complaint lodged at an employment tribunal.

Mayor Campbell was reportedly interviewed under caution by Humberside Police. He has not been arrested or charged. The incident is now the subject of an internal grievance procedure at HEYCA.

In a statement released to The Hull Story, a spokesperson for Reform UK said: “Luke firmly denies the allegations. They come from a disgruntled employee attempting to leverage a settlement in a meritless workplace dispute.”

The party also said a copy of a special edition of Gay Times to raise money for a sexual health charity, in which Mayor Campbell posed naked shortly after winning a gold medal at the Olympics, had been passed around the office.

However, the Hull Liberal Democrats said: “Reform UK promised the world to Hull and East Yorkshire but all they’ve brought us is embarrassment. We deserve better. 

“Whether it’s concerns about his dysfunctional workplace or his clear absence from the job, Luke Campbell’s performance as Mayor makes a mockery of his once impressive reputation across the country. 

“Both the Mayor and Reform UK have serious questions to answer – local people and businesses deserve better than their mess.”

A spokesperson for HEYCA said: “As with all public authorities, the combined authority has a standards process that can be engaged to deal with complaints about members and a complaints procedure that can be used to deal with complaints about officers.

“The standards process and the complaints procedure must be carried out in a fair and independent manner.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “While we cannot comment on individual allegations, mayors should be held to the highest possible standards in elected office and combined authorities must have appropriate arrangements for protecting their staff, with the right safeguards in place when allegations are made.

“We have established processes in place to intervene in cases where they fail to meet these standards and will not hesitate to use them where required.”

Former bantamweight boxer Mayor Campbell won gold at the 2012 London Olympics and was subsequently awarded an MBE for services to the sport.

He secured victory for Reform UK in the May 2025 mayoral election after being unveiled as the party’s candidate by leader Nigel Farage at a rally at Connexin Live.