George Madgwick, the leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, faces 35 criminal charges including 12 counts of rape. The Crown Prosecution Service says the 37-year-old councillor faces 35 offences against four victims, who were aged 16 and 17 at the time, following allegations that took place in Portsmouth and Wales between 2008 and 2021. These offences include 12 counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and two counts of sexual assault. The defendant also faces two counts of making indecent images of a child, two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour, and eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
| Offence Type | Number of Counts |
|---|---|
| Rape | 12 |
| Assault occasioning actual bodily harm | 8 |
| Assault by penetration | 2 |
| Sexual assault | 2 |
| Controlling or coercive behaviour | 2 |
| Making an indecent image of a child | 2 |
| Other specific charges | 7 |
The remaining charges include one count each of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child, distributing an indecent image of a child, stalking, making threats to kill, false imprisonment, theft, and criminal damage. Madgwick, who holds the seat for North East Havant on Hampshire County Council and Paulsgrove on Portsmouth City Council, will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 25 November. He is from the Anchorage Park area of Portsmouth.
Investigation and political rise
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary began its investigation into Madgwick on 24 July 2025 after receiving a report of a sexual offence. Officers arrested him at an address in Wandsworth, London, on 6 January 2026. After he joined Reform UK in 2025, Madgwick won a seat on the Hampshire County Council in May and subsequently became the leader of the Reform group. He also became the chair of the council’s corporate services and resources select committee. He was one of 20 Reform councillors elected to the authority, which allowed the party to place third behind the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Madgwick started his political career as an independent on Portsmouth City Council in 2021. Last month, he appeared in the ITV News Exposure documentary "Undercover: A Year In Reform" where he voiced support for the Portsmouth Patriots anti-immigration group. He subsequently issued a statement saying the undercover reporters potentially had an "impact on the result" of council elections, accusing the broadcaster of "electoral interference". He also spoke to the media in September when protesters blocked roads in Portsmouth regarding the arrival of asylum seekers. Madgwick said local people were "not happy, and rightly so" about the arrival of asylum seekers. He also mediated during an incident in September when protesters gathered outside a Portsmouth hotel after mistaking a Pakistan under-19s cricket team for asylum seekers. He told the media the incident was a "massively unfortunate incident" but believed the crowd was understandable given the coverage of asylum seekers arriving via small boats.
Political fallout
Reform UK suspended Madgwick from the party with immediate effect. Bridget Phillipson, the Labour Party chair, called the charges "truly shocking" and demanded that Nigel Farage explain if he was aware of the arrest or the allegations. Phillipson questioned why the Reform leader thought it was appropriate for Madgwick to hold a leadership role or work as a Reform member of staff.
The local authority stated it was aware of the "extremely serious allegations" but said it would not comment further because criminal proceedings are now under way. The authority noted that being charged with a criminal offence does not disqualify a councillor from office. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that prosecutors established sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to bring the case to court. A spokesperson for the CPS said that all concerned must remember that the defendant has the right to a fair trial. There should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
