Reform councillor likens volunteer to Nazi collaborator after English teaching

Nick Godley has filed a formal complaint with Essex county council regarding remarks made by Reform UK councillor Carl Johnson at a Wethersfield parish council meeting on October 14. Godley, 77, and his wife Mair, 78, attended the session where Johnson addressed local infrastructure and security measures.

The dispute began when Godley questioned the necessity of Operation Vanguard, a scheme using private security guards to patrol town centers. He noted that crime rates in nearby Braintree remained low despite the presence of asylum seekers. Johnson responded by asking the room if anyone was helping the migrants at the nearby Wethersfield site and facilitating an invasion.

Mair Godley confirmed she had previously volunteered to teach English to asylum seekers housed at the former military base. Johnson stated that her efforts were comparable to aiding Germany during the Second World War. He added that he did not want to raise his daughter in a community where she might be raped and murdered by asylum seekers.

Johnson’s comments followed a Facebook post from the previous week in which he described the acceptance of asylum seekers as population replacement. He wrote that the country was facilitating its own invasion and called the practice treason.

The parish council draft minutes indicate the discussion became heated. A member of the public present at the meeting suggested that Johnson leave the room to restore order. Nick Godley described the interaction as a challenging discussion, noting that Johnson had not consulted locals before introducing the security patrols.

Mair Godley said she felt violated by the comments at the age of 78. She told Johnson at the meeting that he was not wanted there and said his words have left a bad taste. The couple lives near the Wethersfield site, which the Home Office uses to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers. The other major site is in Crowborough, Sussex.

Reform UK took control of Essex county council in May 2026, ending 25 years of Conservative leadership. A council spokesperson stated that they comment on complaints only after an investigation finds a breach of rules. Neither Reform UK nor Johnson has responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The next step involves the county council investigating Godley's formal complaint. The process will determine whether Johnson's conduct at the October meeting violated established standards for councillors.