Reform UK Councillors Quitting... So what Is Reform UK Actually Like... On the Inside? "Nightmarish"... Says Andrew Pope

Graph of Redbridge ward result, 2026 Southampton City Council
Image: Southampton Independents

 

 

At the 2026 local elections, and the Scottish and Welsh Parliament elections, Reform did very well, reflecting their consistent opinion poll ratings.

Reform councillors have been elected in Southampton and elsewhere, somewhat unexpectedly and surprisingly. And some are quitting almost as soon as they were elected. Here are some examples:

• BBC. 11th May 2026 (4 days after the election), "New Reform councillor quits after race post claims"
• BBC, 15th May 2026 (8 days after election), "New Reform councillor who made adult films quits"
• MSN, 14th May 2026 (7 days after election), "Councillor quits Reform over Holocaust 'hoax' post"

A Reform UK candidate - John Edwards - won the Redbridge ward where Andrew Pope stood as an Independent Network candidate for Southampton City Council. The graph above shows the result. Andrew was third, slightly behind Labour but way behind Reform.

So what are the Reform UK councillors, such as Edwards, who is also the Chair of Reform UK in Southamptno, actually like? 

And what is Reform UK actually like... on the inside?

We have inside information. Slightly old information, but inside information.

Briefly in 2024, for around two months, after the June General Election Co-Founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope was a member of Reform UK. He quit in absolute disgust very shortly after, in September 2024.

Andrew says: 

"After the recent local elections, some of my supporters have suggested to me that I join a political party. I've said no, because I know better than that. My experience of the parties is bad, very bad.

Political parties have tried to recruit me, on several occasions, ever since I quit Labour in 2015. I have been independent of the big political parties ever since 2015. Apart from two months. that is.

Having met a few of their people, I was impressed by some of them. After the 2024 General Election, I joined Reform UK to see what it was like on the inside, and to see whether it was full of racists, fascists and incompetents, as alleged by many.

It wasn't full of racists and fascists but some of the people I met, and the attitudes that I heard, were definitely racist and some were definitely fascist. I found this deeply disturbing and it confirmed my worst fears.

What I also found was a massive amount of incompetence and disorganisation.

And a cult. A cult of Nigel Farage and his love for Margaret Thatcher and her disastrous approach to changing our country that damaged so many millions of people's lives. And still does - just look at the impact of privatised water, privatised trains and buses, privatised gas, privatised roads, privatised electricity and more! The Tories would privatise their grannies. It's chaos!

So I believe now that is what Reform UK is really about - bringing back Thatcherism which did our country so much harm the first time. The new Hampshire Reform UK councillor that is their group leader, George Madgwick, has consistently broken employment law, as reported by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

I had hoped that I could help Reform UK to be a truly new force in Southampton, and that it could have a diversity of views on policy.

But I couldn't do that. Because it isn't. And it couldn't.

As another supporter of mine reminded me, Reform is an anagram of "former". Reform is just another bunch of Tories, as proved by the recruitment of so many ex-Tory MPs and councillors, and George Madgwick fits that mould too.

I was being over-optimistic and I even agreed with local members to be the Reform UK candidate in the 2024 Shirley ward council by-election. But they couldn't even get me through their national incompetent vetting process properly or in good time, through no fault of mine. What a blessing in disguise that was!

I failed their candidate vetting, which they rushed and got wrong. I was not given any reason. In fact, I had to put them under extreme pressure to get any reasons, which took them months to provide when I had to threaten to go to the Information Commissioner. They were incompetent.

But it was a relief and was irrelevant anyway that I failed the vetting because I had already quit when I saw their incompetence, and the racism and fascism of some of the Reform members. 

It was clear to me that they were so disorganised and incompetent, that I could not have solved it on my own. Like when I quit Labour and refused to be in the Council's Cabinet, I would have been one of the few competent people, surrounded by ineptitude.

All big political parties seem to be the same.

All riddled with corruption, as proved by the Greens' Zack Polanski failing to pay council tax and lying about voting, Reform UK's Nigel Farage failing to declare £5 MILLION, and local Southampton Labour MP Satvir Kaur taking £10,000 from a convicted criminal.

Perhaps Reform UK is different now, nearly two years later. But I doubt it.

Because what I saw was ugly, very ugly indeed.

Ugliness plus some racists, some fascists, Thatcherites, disorganisation and incompetence. 

That is what Reform UK was about then.

But like I say, maybe it is different now. Or maybe not.

Ever since 2015, I have been independent of the big political parties. Those nightmarish two months reminded me why I do not want to be a member of the big political parties and what Reform UK truly is.

I cannot see me ever joining a big political party again, unless things change massively.

Being independent is what many residents respect, and I agree with them."

 

THANK YOU! ANDREW POPE INDEPENDENT BEATS THE BIG POLITICAL PARTIES AGAIN - JUST LIKE WE DID IN 2016 AND 2018

Andrew Pope Beats Political Parties YET AGAIN
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

Redbridge ward 2026 Result, Southampton City Council
Graph: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

Andrew Pope Independent candidate for Redbridge says:

 

"Dear Residents of Redbridge, Maybush and Millbrook,

ONCE AGAIN, IN REDBRIDGE WARD WE BEAT THE BIG POLITICAL PARTIES LIKE WE DID IN 2016 AND 2018! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

I was 3rd out of 7 candidates. By working together with you helping me to help you, we beat the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens. And in some areas, Labour too. 

Thank you for your support – whether you put up an election board or an election poster, or if you voted for me, or if you encouraged others to vote for me. THANKS!

Together, we’ve shown in 2026, like we did in 2016 and 2018, that an Independent can beat the big political parties. It took a lot of hard work, but we did it.

This is what the Independent Network is about – not party politics, not imposed policies from Westminster – the Indie Network is about principles, the Martin Bell principles – listening to local people and acting with local people to win together.

This was a Council election. The Council has no power over national issues. But I lost to national party Reform in a local Council election. I don’t know why. 

In Redbridge ward, you now have a Reform councillor. And two Labour councillors.

If you voted for the big political parties at Westminster, including Reform, I would like to understand why you did. Please get in touch and I will listen carefully to you.

I will be holding Reform and Labour to account. For example, the Reform Councillor John Edwards has already linked arming all Police with immigration. Southampton Labour councillors are incompetent and corrupt. They and Labour MP Satvir Kaur took £10k from a convicted criminal, with no evidence of paying it back. I’ve asked.

Get in touch if you want to help your area, your family and your friends."

Andrew Pope, Independent Network, Co-Founder Southampton Independents 

Residents of Redbridge Ward Say Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network THIS THURSDAY 7am to 10pm on 7th May!

 

 

Andrew Pope - Independent Network at Millbrook Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Jan, a new supporter says:

"I’d like to say a few words to everyone about both Andrew and the Independent Network. Andrew does his best to get everyone’s problems sorted as best he can. He is a great support for us the working people."

Ken, who has been a supporter of Andrew for 10 years, says:

"I will vote for Andrew and support him because of what he has done to protect our parks at Five Acres, Mansel Park and Green Park. He stands up against those who want to take it away from the public."

Jean, a new supporter, says: 

"I had problems with vermin and dog faeces in a neighbour's council garden.
I had complained before to the Council but nothing got done.
Worse than that, the man was angry with me. I am an old lady who is not mobile.
A week after I contacted Andrew, it was cleared up. 
Andrew got it done. It took 3 people six or seven hours.
Good luck to Andrew. I will be voting for him."

Stuart, a new supporter, says:

"I recently met Andrew Pope and found him to be a likeable, trustworthy and dedicated public servant who genuinely wants to support his constituents. 
He previously helped our street by standing with the local community against proposed warehouse development, and although the project ultimately went ahead, his effort and advocacy were clearly appreciated.

 

More endorsers of Andrew Pope are below. 

Andrew Pope is standing to be re-elected to the Redbridge ward that he represented for eight years between 2011 and 2019 - first with Labour, then as an Independent when he quit Labour  in disgust at what they were doing to the people of the area. 

Andrew was the first Southampton Independents councillor. He co-founded Southampton Independents with Denise Wyatt and other local residents and supporters.

Those supporters are still supporting Andrew. They endorse and recommend Andrew to be re-elected. Andrew has worked very hard for the area and is known for getting things done over many years.

And because of his recent hard work, Andrew has new supporters.

As quoted on Andrew's election address, residents of Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge say: 

"Andrew Pope stands up for our area. Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on the 7th May because he isn't told what to do by political parties. Andrew is Putting You First. Only Andrew Pope can beat Labour here. Enough is enough. Help him to help you and yours."

These are the words of local residents, which they have agreed to be used on our website, on our letters and leaflets, and on all social media. 

More endorsements are below.

You will see their support in the form of election boards which supporters agree to be put up, because they support Andrew Pope Independent to be the Independent councillor for Redbridge again. 

Andrew is self-funded. He pays for his leaflets, letters and election boards. He does it because he cares about the people of Redbridge. His priorities are determined by many conversations with residents.

 

Andrew Pope with Election Board in Redbridge
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

More Endorsers 

John has supported Andrew since 2016, but had previously stopped voting because he says political parties are all useless and the same, says:

 "Unlike most councillors, who owe their allegiance to one political party or another Andrew Pope, as an independent, can and does work for the people who elect him. 

We need him to be our councillor again. If he stands, I will be voting for him. You should too. 

When Andrew Pope was our local councillor, of the three councillors we had, he was the one who got things done. 

When the residents had a problem with the roadside trees not being maintained, Andrew got that sorted. 

When I had a problem with the council tax band my home was in, Andrew came to my house and helped me to get the council tax band lowered. I can't see many other councillors doing that.”

Wayne, who has been a supporter of Andrew for a decade, says:

"Andrew stands up for the area, and is not told what to do by political parties.
He is here as a representative of the people and the area.
That's what a councillor should be.
Andrew is that."

 

Andrew at Five Acres
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 7th May
Image: Independent Network

 

 

EXCLUSIVE: Residents at Labour-run Council Pensioner Block Allege Health and Safety Breaches By Council's Contractors

 

Labour-run Council Fails To Protect Pensioners

Labour-run Southampton City Council has faced allegations of health and safety breaches from residents of Rozel Court. The allegations relate to a lack of management of contractors working at the site. 

Independent Network Redbridge Ward candidate for the 7th May elections, Andrew Pope, has acted to help residents.

Rozel Court is two large blocks of pensioners and vulnerable people in the Channel Islands Estate in the north-west of our City.

Andrew says:

 

Andrew Pope with Election Board for Redbridge Ward
Image: Southampton Independents (SC)

 

"I was contacted after residents read my letters and leaflets that I had delivered to both blocks.

I started to investigate the allegations and spoke with several residents at Rozel Court. With a local resident, I delivered a letter to all flats to listen to residents' concerns.

The Police were involved in some of the allegations. I was quite concerned. These are elderly residents feeling at risk. It's not right.

I also spoke with Council officers from different departments, and the contractors on site.

I expressed my disappointment at some attempts to pass the buck. As a campaigner over 20 years, I take a very dim view of buck-passing and have ways of dealing with it. Officers of the Council know this and the contractors found this out very quickly.

As I was trained to do many years ago, I cross-checked the allegations made and tried to get all sides to the situation. That is fair to all sides and natural justice in our country.

I now have a clearer picture of the situation and am now pressuring the Council officers to improve the situation for residents. 

I am getting some co-operation from officers and the contractors now.

I will continue to do so, until I feel that residents' concerns are addressed.

Many Council residents complain that the Council does everything online and does not respond.

So to show how it can be done better than the Council, I printed my updates and with Southampton Independents colleagues, delivered an update by hand to residents.  

If elected on 7th May, I will have more powers to do so. Please vote for me and encourage everyone else who has a vote in Redbridge Ward to vote for me too."

 

 

 

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network for Redbridge Ward 7th May 2026

   

Andrew Pope at Mansel Park and Millbrook Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Note: This article is also a page, as well as a post.

Former Redbridge Independent Councillor Andrew Pope has announced that he is standing in the 7th May 2026 local election.

Andrew says:

"It's so good to be back where I belong. I know the area very well and the people so well. And they know me. They are encouraging me to stand in Redbridge, because they've had enough of Labour and do not want Reform. So I'm doing this!

It was an absolute pleasure chatting with people and delivering my letters while I did my March the Month with Prostate Cancer UK in the area. I walked 341,000 steps, or 175 miles, over the month and have raised over £300 for the charity.

 

Andrew Pope at Five Acres Recreation Ground
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

  

People say that they've had enough of Labour and the Tories. I coined the phrase Labour or Tory, same old story. Now people say it back to me on the doorstep and in the streets.

They supported us independents before in their hundreds - almost a thousand votes last time we stood. 

 

We doubled our vote last time to 982 votes
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

  

And as our team at the count knows, I did very well in Redbridge ward when I stood in the General Election and beat the other independent from Coxford.

This time we need to win and to get over the line. Together, we can do it!

With council tax being put up and up, residents do not feel that things have improved under Labour for the last 14 years and they definitely don't feel they get value for money from the Labour-run Council.

Constant bin chaos, dangerous roads and perilous pavements, financial mismanagement of public funds and three Labour MPs on the South Coast taking £30,000 from a convicted criminal, including Southampton's Satvir Kaur MP. The Labour Government has failed like the Tories before.

 

Labour have failed!
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

And Labour has just sacked its own Redbridge councillor, Lee Whitbread, who was due to stand in May. I tried to warn Labour about him but they preferred to cover up than investigate him.

I am standing as the anti-corruption candidate and subscribe to the Martin Bell Principles from the Independent Network.

Enough is enough. Just one seat needs to change for a positive future.

The last time we stood, we nearly beat Labour and got more votes than all the other parties put together - Tories, UKIP / Reform, Lib Dems and Greens. 

I am the only candidate that can beat Labour. This time you can help me to get over the line and represent you again.

Please Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 7th May." 

  

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network
Putting You First
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

Andrew Pope Won His Safe Standing Campaign for St Marys Stadium -
A Campaign Launched at MP3 Centre, Millbrook
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

Andrew Pope Safe Standing Launch at MP3 Millbrook
Photo: Southampton Independents (DW)

Andrew Pope at the MP3 Centre, Millbrook
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Andrew Pope's Essay on "Immigration"

 

Andrew Pope on BBC South Today

Our co-founder and member of the Independent Network Andrew Pope has published an essay on "immigration".

It is on this page here.

Agree? Disagree? Get in touch.

 

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 26th Feb! say Shirley residents... and Andrew responds to them

 

Andrew Pope and the Independent Network emblem

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 26th Feb! 

EIGHT YEARS COUNCILLOR EXPERIENCE & CARE - I HOLD THE COUNCIL TO ACCOUNT FOR YOU 

Please do not waste your vote on the big political parties. 

I am the ONLY candidate at this by-election that has two full four-year terms of experience as a Southampton City Councillor. I have more experience than all the others put together. 

Why? Because all six other candidates have zero experience as a councillor. I checked each one via web search, so that you don't need to. 

I am local. I care. I listen. I act. Elect me to hold the Council to account, regardless of who it is.

Residents told me they wanted me to stand again next time. I promised to. So I am. Residents say:

“Andrew is genuine, knowledgeable, persistent and experienced. He knows what he is talking about and is very articulate.” (Resident Chris who lives in the Coxford part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is honest, listened to the problem we had and got it done. He is one of the few councillors who care.” (Resident Barry who lives in the Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very straight-forward and outspoken in his views. In my opinion, he is exactly what we need in Shirley.” (Resident Bogdan who lives in the Old Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

Residents support me because I listen, lead and act. I’ve helped thousands of Southampton people over decades of hard work here in Southampton. We co-founded Southampton Independents. Why? Because we care about our City and its people.

I've got the big stuff done and got the little stuff done. Just a few examples are below, but you can see more on this website:

1. I led and won a 12-year campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride for hospital staff then another for public and football fans to use. I led a Council inquiry into hospital transport.
2. I ran a petition on the derelict pub plans and spoke up for residents at Council Planning. 
3. I called in the Echo for the Labour Councillor for Transport to be sacked. He was sacked.
4. I successfully pressured the Council to remove silly 20mph signs, including on Hill Lane.

Andrew campaigning on the derelict pub and Park and Ride
Photo: Southampton Independents

Southampton Park and Ride Delivered by Andrew Pope
Photo: Southampton Independents

Sign my petition to demand sprinklers are installed at the SGH. It's on this website, and on Change.org. And you can sign it in person if you get in touch - many people do not use the web and find signing in person is better for them. Mycampaign is building with my dedication and with residents' support.

 

Southampton General Hospital Scene of Major Incident Fire
Photo: Southampton Independents

What issues matter to you? If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it. 

I am part of the Independent Network of councillors and campaigners. We work together with residents. Independents have won here in Southampton, on the Isle of Wight, and across England. I was an Independent councillor for Redbridge and there were three Independents in Coxford too.

Get in touch to tell me what matters. I listen to you. I act. I fight back against the big political parties and keep them honest. I hold them to account. I lead by example and inspire others to act.

Thank you for reading this. Please tell others to vote for me and support the Independent Network in future. 

I live and work locally, running my own business of technical and campaigning consultancy, PopeyMon Consulting. I have a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Leeds and a Masters degree in Politics from Southampton. 

If you want a local and very experienced and caring councillor, then please vote for me on 26th February. Vote for 8 years of Southampton councillor experience and care.

Vote Andrew Pope, Independent Network on 26th February – Residents say: Local, caring, genuine, experienced and outspoken. Listening, leading and acting for you.

 

Andrew Pope Finding Fire Safety Breaches at Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

Independent Network Emblem

FIRE SAFETY CAMPAIGN: Since 2017, We Have Protected Southampton's Residents

 

Daily Echo Front Page After Redbridge Towers Fire
Photo: Southampton Independents

Southampton Independents listens to residents and acts with residents, because we are residents too.

Since the Redbridge Towers fire in 2017, we have protected residents with our fire safety campaign.

At this link is a video of Councillor Andrew Pope, who was our Redbridge ward councillor. He appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, showing fire safety breaches in Council tower blocks in International Way in Weston, Southampton.

 

This was in 2018, six months after the Grenfell disaster in London. A full transcript of the video is below:

Andrew Pope
Southampton Independents Councillor
on Southampton City Council

Councillor Andrew Pope on BBC
Photo: Southampton Independents

"We're now at Rotterdam Towers and immediately on coming here we've seen some fire safety issues with the fire doors at the entrance to the building. 

This is a fire door here and the next door we come across is another fire door, this just stays three or four inches open.

And, the next one we come to is another fire door and that's also three or four inches open, as well. Not functioning as a fire door.

And we've been to the top floor and we've seen fire doors there and on other floors that aren't closing properly. We've even seen a fire door where the handle is half hanging off. 

So it's quite disgraceful what we've seen.

We haven't had to look very hard, and we've already seen huge numbers of failures of fire safety within Rotterdam Towers."

Dr Stephen Battersby
Environmental Health Expert:

"It's absolutely amazing to think that after Grenfell Tower, six months after Grenfell Tower, that these conditions still exist and nobody has clearly looked at fire risks in this building and remedied the problems that increase the fire risk.

It means that their safety is at risk.

Any responsible landlord would certainly have ensured that fire doors fit properly, and work as fire doors.

Those fire doors don't fulfill their basic function.

And one doesn't have to be an expert in either fire safety or the housing health and safety rating system, to see that these are problems that ought to be, ought to have been remedied immediately."

Southampton City Council "say they are undertaking an extensive programme of improvements to all their tower blocks... including the installation of sprinklers and the inspection of fire doors."

HOSPITAL FIRE: BBC CONFIRMS NO SPRINKLERS IN MAJOR INCIDENT FIRE IN WEST WING

West Wing Southampton General Hospital
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

Redbridge Towers Fire in 2017 with no sprinklers

"Were there sprinklers at yesterday's major incident fire at Southampton General Hospital? I am asking the hospital Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officers this and other questions. I have also contacted the Fire Protection Association, who are experts on sprinklers."

says prominent fire safety campaigner Andrew Pope, who is standing as the Independent Network candidate in the 26th February 2026 Shirley by-election.

Sign Andrew Pope's petition here to demand that sprinklers are installed, and made mandatory for all hospitals and care homes.

Joe Campbell on BBC South Today 2nd February 2026 confirmed that sprinklers were NOT installed. It appears that the hospital's attempt at explaining why, is that the West Wing is "old" and that sprinklers might get expensive equipment wet and patients wet. We are asking more questions, and asking the Daily Echo and BBC to ask more for patients and local residents.

The ITV News report is here. 

What do you think of the hospital's "explanation" of no sprinklers? 

Andrew says:  

"I noticed in the BBC's original report that sprinklers were not mentioned. So I raised sprinklers with the BBC's Emily Hudson and true to her word, she raised this with the reporter Joe Campbell. I will be thanking Emily and Joe for getting an answer. More answers are needed now though, once the immediate chaos caused by the fire has receded."

Why have Southampton Independents campaigned for sprinklers, ever since the first year we started in 2017?

Because sprinklers save lives. Sprinklers save property. They are, in the words of Nick Ross CBE in the video by the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), "phenomenally successful". 

If you have any doubts about sprinklers, please watch the BAFSA video above. 

Sprinkler Saves reports: "Southampton City Council demonstrated its commitment to fire safety by agreeing, in June 2017, to fund the retrofitting of residential sprinklers within its twenty high-rise buildings as part of a phased programme, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire."  

We began our campaign earlier in 2017 after the Redbridge Towers fire, the Labour-run Council's Cabinet Member for Housing Warwick Payne said that residents did not want sprinklers and that the Council did not have the money. We made them commit to doing it and find the money. 

Please see a selection of reports of the below incidents where our campaign has saved lives and property, and the City Council and taxpayers money, and protected firefighters from tackling a worse incident, in Southampton:

• 13th August 2025, Irving Road, Southampton: HFRS incident reports: "high-rise sprinkler system in Southampton played a key role in containing a kitchen fire, protecting residents, and enabling firefighters to bring the incident under control". 
• 23rd March 2025, Redbridge Towers, Southampton: HFRS incident reports: "It is further reassuring to know that had this fire occurred inside one of the flats and not the sterile communal area, that the building is fitted with firefighting sprinklers. These would have contained the fire prior to our arrival but also protected the residents and assisted in their escape."
• 20th April 2021, Millbrook Towers, Southampton:  HFRS incident reports: "The sprinklers in Millbrook Towers did exactly what these systems are designed to do. By confining the fire to one room, the potential for this being a much more significant incident was averted."

This is just some of the incidents in tower blocks. Southampton City Council issued this update in 2024, with all 20 tower blocks having sprinklers installed, saying: 

"Since the sprinklers have been installed we have had five flat fires in our high-rise blocks. All of these have been suppressed by the sprinkler systems before the fire service arrived." 

Southampton Independents has continued its pressure, checking up on the Council's work. 

On the day of the fire at the Hospital, Andrew Pope sent concerns of Shirley Towers residents over fire safety to the Labour Cabinet Member for Housing at the Council, Councillor Andy Frampton. He flatly refused to answer their concerns, in writing. Shirley Towers residents told us, when we told them this, that he deserves to lose his Council seat. According to the Council website, his seat is up for election in May 2026. If you would like to stand against him, please get in touch with us.

Our campaign worked. Contrast the above safety improvements after our campaign with the incidents at Redbridge Towers in 2017, Shirley Towers in 2010 and Albion Towers in 2017. Sprinklers were not installed then. Both Labour and Tory-run Councils failed to do it, until we started our campaign.

It is now time for the Hospital to do the same, and for Labour to be held to account for its failings on the Council.

 

Andrew Pope, Fire Safety Campaigner

 

HOSPITAL FIRE: "Were There Sprinklers at Yesterday's Major Incident Hospital Fire?" asks Andrew Pope Independent Network Shirley By-Election Candidate

 

Redbridge Towers Fire in 2017 with no sprinklers

"Were there sprinklers at yesterday's major incident fire at Southampton General Hospital? I am asking the hospital Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officers this and other questions."

says prominent fire safety campaigner Andrew Pope, who is standing as the Independent Network candidate in the 26th February 2026 Shirley by-election.

Joe Campbell on BBC South Today this evening confirmed that sprinklers were NOT installed. It appears that the hospital attempt at explaining why is that the West Wing is "old" and that sprinklers might get expensive equipment wet and patients wet.

Sign Andrew Pope's petition here to the CEO of the Hospital to demand that sprinklers are installed, and made mandatory by law for all hospitals and care homes. 

Andrew says: "I raised sprinklers with the BBC's Emily Hudson yesterday and true to her word, she raised this with the reporter Joe Campbell. I will be thanking Emily and Joe for getting an answer. More answers are needed now though, once the immediate chaos caused by the fire has receded." 

 

Andrew Pope, Fire Safety Campaigner

Andrew says: 

"This Major Incident reminds me of the terrifying near-miss fire in early 2017 at Redbridge Towers when I was an Independent councillor for the Redbridge ward. Nobody died. But firemen did at Shirley Towers. Sprinklers were not installed back then in either of the Towers.

I campaigned and won for sprinklers to be installed in all Council tower blocks.  

Just yesterday though, I heard allegations by Council tenants in Shirley Towers that fire safety may have been compromised. The Cabinet Member for Housing, Labour Councillor Andy Frampton refused to answer the concerns that residents raised with me over fire safety. 

I am asking the same questions now of the Hospital's Chief Executive and Trust Board that I asked the Labour-run Council in 2017.

Although there are differences, this seems to be a very similar scenario. I have offered the Hospital's senior management the right of reply.

I hope that the hospital management do not pretend like the Labour-run Council did, that residents or patients do not want sprinklers. They do. And they need them. 

And this fire would very likely have been prevented completely, or better contained, if sprinklers were installed and working.

Sprinklers save lives and property and in the vast majority of cases, they contain or extinguish fires.

There would have been no need for over one-hundred firefighters to attend, and hundreds of patients moved internally and outside Southampton, and no need for a huge emergency service response, if sprinklers were installed and working in the endoscopy unit. Perhaps they were installed and failed, so I am asking Hospital senior management." 

The questions that Andrew has put to David French, the outgoing Chief Executive, and the Trust Board and Governors are as follows:

1. Were there sprinklers where the fire broke out?
2. If there were sprinklers, did they contain the fire?
3. If there were sprinklers, why didn't they put the fire out? 
4. Will the hospital review fire safety in this building and across the hospital estate, and install sprinklers? If so, where, by when?
5. If there were electrical, medical or other reasons why sprinklers were not appropriate for that location, please provide those.

If you want Southampton residents and patients to be protected from fire, please vote for Andrew Pope Independent Network at the 26th February Shirley by-election.

 

Independent Network Emblem

Perhaps hospitals are a special case where sprinklers do not work? No, definitely not. The experts on sprinklers, BAFSA, the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, said in 2024:

 "The impact on UK hospitals and healthcare premises from fire is significant with 636 fires in hospitals in the year to September 2019.

The government’s fire standards for the NHS briefly mention, but do not commit to, the installation of sprinklers. The guidance also repeatedly states that where sprinklers are used, other fire prevention measures may be reduced to prove cost-benefits and design flexibility. Despite this even some new builds have not included sprinklers and almost no mental health trusts have sprinkler systems.
All sprinkler systems will save lives and: 

Protect firefighters
Limit the size of a fire
Control fire spread
Provide additional time to evacuate
Limit fire damage
Be beneficial in terms of business continuity
Compensate for any impairments in passive fire
protection measures"

 

Images and photos from Andrew Pope's previous campaigning work on fire safety are below and on many other posts and pages on the Southampton Independents website. This is just a selection of his work.

 

Daily Echo Front Page after Redbridge Towers 2017 fire

Daily Echo quoting Andrew Pope and Redbridge Towers residents

Damage to Redbridge Towers in 2017 Fire

Andrew Pope appearing on ITV News in 2017

Demo truck at Albion Towers, Southampton

Sprinkler Demo at Albion Towers

Evidence from Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety in Council Tower Blocks

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

VOTE ANDREW DOUGLAS POPE, INDEPENDENT NETWORK CANDIDATE FOR THE SHIRLEY 2026 BY-ELECTION

 

Andrew Douglas Pope of the Independent Network and Southampton Independents

Emblem of the Independent Network

Andrew Douglas Pope is announcing his candidacy for the Shirley ward by-election on 26th February 2026, standing for the Independent Network. 

More information about Andrew Douglas Pope's campaigning, activism and organising work over the last three decades, is on this Southampton Independents website page here. 

Andrew, who was the co-founder of Southampton Independents, says:  

"Dear Residents of Shirley ward of Southampton City Council,

ANOTHER BY-ELECTION CAUSED BY ANOTHER BIG POLITICAL PARTY LETTING YOU DOWN

In 2024, residents had enough of political parties and encouraged me to stand as an Independent candidate. So I did! I listened. I acted. Labour or Tory, same old story, I said. Now add the Lib Dems. Their councillor was elected in 2024 but only lasted 15 months. He quit, causing this by-election.

Residents told me they wanted me to stand again next time. I promised to. So I am. Residents say:

“Andrew is genuine, knowledgeable, persistent and experienced. He knows what he is talking about and is very articulate.” (Resident Chris who lives in the Coxford part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very enthusiastic and believes in what he is doing. I will be voting for him.” (Resident Derek who lives in the Maybush part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very straight-forward and outspoken in his views. In my opinion, he is exactly what we need in Shirley.” (Resident Bogdan who lives in the Old Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

Residents support me because I listen, lead, and act. People wanted action on hospital traffic and parking. 

1. I led and won a 12-year campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride for hospital staff and another for the public and football fans too. Now I am pressuring the Council to get it right.
2. I led a Council inquiry into transport to the hospital and have held the hospital to its promises.
3. I ran a petition on the derelict pub and spoke for you at the Council Planning meeting.
4. I fought back against the Labour Council's stupid car restrictions, the Portswood Bus Gate and over-the-top 20mph limits. 
5. I called in the Echo for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport to be sacked, and he was. 

Some of the 20mph limits were scrapped, including on Hill Lane. There’s more to do.

What issues matter to you? If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it. 

I am part of the Independent Network of councillors and campaigners. We work together with residents. Independents have won here in Southampton, on the Isle of Wight, and across England. I was a passionate Independent councillor for Redbridge and there were three in Coxford too.

Get in touch to tell me what matters. Listening carefully is vital. That is the start of taking the correct actions with experience and competence. More residents are joining my team and fighting back against the big political parties. I lead by example and inspire others to act. I’ve proved it.

Thank you for reading this letter. Please make sure other people in your household see it. Get in touch at the details below. Put this letter in your window to show your support.

Please vote for me on 26th February. Vote for independent representation and action."

Andrew Pope, Member of the Independent Network, Co-Founder of Southampton Independents