| Subject name | Sarah Mellor |
| Date of birth (year) | 1992 |
| Occupation | Secondary school teacher |
| Role sought | Labour councillor — Westbridge Ward |
| Council | Heartfield Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Date of assessment | 14 May 2026 |
| Lookback period | 1 January 2019 to 14 May 2026 |
| Commissioned by | Heartfield Labour Group Selection Panel |
| Report type | Party commission |
| Prepared by | Integri Limited · integri.uk |
| Report version | 1.0 — Final |
This assessment has been conducted by Integri Limited in accordance with its standard Verify methodology. All content is assessed against the Nolan Principles, the LGA Model Code of Conduct (2020), the Equality Act 2010, general reputational risk considerations, and Integri's proprietary risk pattern library.
| Platform / Source | Account reviewed | Items reviewed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| X (formerly Twitter) | @sarahmellor_hf | 312 posts reviewed | Active |
| Sarah Mellor (personal profile) | 187 posts reviewed | Active | |
| @sarahmellor | 43 posts reviewed | Active | |
| Sarah Mellor | 12 posts reviewed | Active | |
| TikTok | Not identified | N/A | Not found |
| News archive | Google News / Heartfield Gazette / regional press | 8 results | Reviewed |
| Public records | Companies House / planning register | — | Reviewed |
This assessment is limited to publicly accessible content as at the date of assessment. It does not include deleted content, private accounts, or platforms not listed above. This report expires 30 days from the date of issue.
The most significant finding concerns a post published on X in March 2024 in which the subject expressed a clear pre-judgment of a planning application pending before Heartfield Metropolitan Borough Council's planning committee. The second HIGH risk finding concerns a post from February 2022 on Facebook containing language that could be construed as discriminatory on the grounds of religion.
| # | Severity | Platform | Summary | Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HIGH | X (Twitter) | Pre-judgment of pending planning application | 4.1 |
| 2 | HIGH | Potentially discriminatory language — religion | 4.2 | |
| 3 | MEDIUM | X (Twitter) | Pattern of demeaning language toward named individuals | 4.3 |
| 4 | LOW | Sarcastic tone — recycling policy post | 4.4 |
Pre-judgment of pending planning application — Heartfield Riverside development
On 14 March 2024 the subject published a post on X stating: 'The Riverside development is an absolute disaster for this community. I will do everything in my power to block it if I get elected. This council has sold out our neighbourhood.' At the time of publication, the Heartfield Riverside development application (reference HFB/2024/0312) was pending before the council's planning committee.
Assessment: This post constitutes a clear pre-judgment of a specific planning matter. A councillor who has publicly committed to blocking a named application is at significant risk of a pre-determination challenge if elected and subsequently involved in any aspect of the planning process.
Risk engaged: LGA Model Code of Conduct — objectivity; Nolan Principle — Objectivity. Planning pre-determination risk.
Potentially discriminatory language — religious reference directed at political opponent
On 7 February 2022 the subject published a post on Facebook in which she stated that a named opponent's views were 'typical of people from that background' and referenced the opponent's religious community in a manner that could reasonably be construed as attributing negative characteristics to members of that community. The post remained publicly visible at the time of assessment.
Risk engaged: Equality Act 2010 — religion or belief; LGA Model Code — equality; Nolan Principle — Leadership. Reputational risk: HIGH.
Pattern of demeaning language directed at named community activists
Across eleven posts published between January 2023 and November 2024, the subject used language about named individuals involved in local community activism that is dismissive, contemptuous, and in three instances personally demeaning.
Risk engaged: Nolan Principle — Leadership; reputational risk — conduct pattern below expected standard of public office.
Advisory — sarcastic tone in post about council recycling policy
On 23 October 2023 the subject published a post mocking the council's revised recycling collection schedule. The tone falls below the register expected of a prospective elected representative. This is an advisory observation only and does not constitute a compliance concern.
| Priority | Action | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Delete February 2022 Facebook post (Finding 4.2) — discriminatory language remains publicly visible. | Subject |
| Before selection | Subject to respond to selection panel on findings 4.1 and 4.2. Formal discussion with panel chair recommended. | Panel / Subject |
| Before selection | Subject to receive written guidance on planning pre-determination obligations. | Panel / Integri |
| On selection | Enrol subject in Integri Induct programme before public campaigning begins. | Integri |
| On election | Enrol subject in Integri Sustain at CAUTIOUS sensitivity tier given findings profile. | Integri |
This report has been prepared by Integri Limited in accordance with its standard Verify methodology on a politically neutral basis.
| Prepared by | Integri Limited |
| Report reference | INTEGRI-VFY-2026-0001 |
| Date of issue | 14 May 2026 |
| Version | 1.0 — Final |
| Expiry | 13 June 2026 (30 days from issue) |
This report constitutes a risk assessment only. It does not constitute legal advice, a finding of fact, or a determination of any standards or conduct matter. Integri Limited accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this report.