Reform councillor in courtroom over offensive social media submit suspended by social gathering
Sunderland City Councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, will appear on Friday at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in connection with an alleged Facebook post from 2024
Northumbria Police announced last month that Glenn Gibbins had been charged with an offence under the Communications Act 2003
A Reform councillor who appeared in court today over allegedly posting a grossly offensive message on social media has been suspended from Reform UK.
Sunderland City Councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in connection with an alleged Facebook post from 2024, before he was elected.
Northumbria Police announced last month that he had been charged with an offence under the Communications Act 2003 for a post which referenced the Nigerian community. It began an investigation when the post came to light in May.
Gibbins, who was elected to the council in May of this year, was suspended by Reform then reinstated with a final written warning, according to reports.
After he was charged, the party last month suspended him again and he is listed on the Sunderland City Council website as an Independent.
A Reform spokesperson said: “Cllr Gibbins has been suspended from Reform UK pending the outcome of his case.”
Now a judge will decide whether a suspended Reform UK councillor’s post about Nigerians was just “offensive” and protected by his right to freedom of expression rather than grossly offensive.
Gibbins denied the offence and District Judge Zoe Passfield said: “The issue is very straightforward, was the message offensive, which Mr Gibbins agrees it was, or was it grossly offensive?”
Referring to the right to freedom of expression, the judge added: “Was it sufficiently offensive to override his Article 10 rights?”
Gibbins spoke only to confirm his name and address.
A trial lasting three hours was scheduled for November 9 at the same court and the councillor was granted unconditional bail.
Gibbins, who was elected to Sunderland City Council, was suspended by Reform following allegations he had complained on social media about the “amount of Nigerians in town”. He was then reinstated with a final written warning, according to reports.
After Gibbins was charged, a Northumbria police spokesperson said: “We are aware there has already been significant interest in relation to this individual and the social media post. We would urge people not to speculate both online and in the community in relation to this case.”
