A Leicestershire councillor claims he is "none the wiser" about reports that attempts were being made to make him lose the party whip following controversial comments he made online.

Councillor Joseph Boam, the former deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council who represents the Whitwick ward, confirmed he still held the Reform whip after he faced widespread criticism for a social media post saying "I stand with ICE" hours after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in America last month.

Cllr Boam was not the only Leicestershire Reform councillor to back ICE officers in the wake of the shooting, with Valley ward councillor Michael Squires congratulating them for their "heroic work saving the United States of America".

Both councillors were widely condemned and were even criticised by the leader of the county council, Cllr Dan Harrison, in an email to staff and the media.

Now, a new letter from Cllr Harrison to the leader of the council's opposition, the Conservatives' Deborah Taylor, has revealed Cllr Harrison wrote to Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice about "concerns" surrounding Cllr Boam and the comments he made on social media.

In the letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Harrison confirmed he sent a letter to Mr Tice "highlighting his concerns" and that he was "making his position very clear" to the Reform deputy leader.

He also said it was up to Reform HQ to decide how they wish to respond to the letter and "how they wish to proceed".

Cllr Harrison also said that Cllr Squires had made a full apology and that he "deeply regrets" the comments made. Cllr Harrison's letter also revealed that Cllr Squires would undergo further training on the Members' Code of Conduct and the use of social media.

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Reports online have suggested in the wake of the controversy that efforts had been undertaken in a bid to remove the Reform whip from Cllr Boam. However, the LDRS has not been able to verify these claims – and Cllr Boam has also dismissed them.

He told the LDRS he was still in Reform and was made aware of the claims online, but they were not from "credible" sources.

He said: "I've not heard anything from anyone credible or a source. It was just what I'd seen online.

"I rang HQ, and I am still in the party, so there's nothing to worry about. Always got on with Dan and have known him a while, so I don't know where it's all come from.

"I don't know what to say, really, but as far as I'm aware, I'm still in Reform, and I'm thought of quite highly by [Reform] HQ, so I don't think there's anything to worry about."

A Reform spokesperson did not wish to comment when contacted by the LDRS but did confirm earlier last week that Cllr Boam still held the whip.

Cllr Harrison said he did not wish to comment when contacted.