Reform UK's Sam Journet seen at Basildon committee hearing before his arrest

A rookie Reform UK politician has been arrested by police on suspicion of stalking, harassment and public disorder after allegedly triggering an extraordinary internal row at his local council. Sam Journet was busted at Basildon council's headquarters, where three officers detained him on Monday morning over the allegations. The 31-year-old jeweller was only elected to the council in July after sweeping to victory in a local by-election. He has never previously served in local politics before. His arrest comes amid an ongoing inappropriate conduct probe by the Essex-based council into his alleged harassment and 'conspiracy theory spinning' which have led to him receiving a public dressing down from the council's top lawyer - at taxpayers' expense.