Councillor under investigation over racism allegations
PA MediaA newly elected Reform UK councillor is under investigation following allegations of racism, according to the party.
Glenn Gibbins was elected to represent the Hylton Castle ward on Sunderland City Council on Thursday when Reform took control of the local authority.
Gibbins, who appeared as Gibbons on some party material, is accused of posting racist comments online.
Speaking on BBC's Politics North earlier, deputy leader of Durham County Council Darren Grimes had said Gibbins had been suspended from the party. However, a spokesperson for Reform UK said this was not correct and "the investigation is still ongoing" with "no decision" made yet.
As reported by Hope Not Hate, the now-deleted post made by Gibbins against Sunderland's Nigerian community is believed to be from March 2024.
He has also been accused of misogyny in earlier posts.
Grimes had said: "He's been suspended and the party is investigating those very serious allegations and will act on them."
When asked, Grimes agreed it had been "a failure of the vetting process".
"I accept that, I do accept that," he said, before pointing towards antisemitism allegations against various Green Party candidates in Newcastle.
'Smearing and sneering'
Earlier, deputy leader of Reform Richard Tice appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where he was also asked about Gibbins.
"This weekend we are celebrating our incredible successes," Tice said.
"Like any party we have internal party processes to look where people have said or done the wrong thing.
"I condemn anything that is wrong and inappropriate, but the key point is voters have heard all of this smearing and sneering against all of us and they voted for more Reform because they want action, they want delivery, they're sick of the failures of the Tories and Labour."
In an interview on the same programme, Bridget Phillipson - the education secretary and Sunderland MP - said the case was an example of "the kind of racism and division" Reform brought to politics.
After Tice attacked what he called "the antisemitic Green Party", Conservative shadow cabinet minister James Cleverly said on X: "How hard is it for Richard Tice to say that racism directed at Jews is wrong AND racism directed at Nigerians is ALSO wrong?"
