A Sunderland councillor convicted of making “grossly offensive” comments about the city’s Nigerian community is facing calls to stand down. Glenn Gibbins was expelled from Reform UK after being convicted, and Labour has urged the 66-year-old to resign his post.
Conviction and Sentence
Gibbins, who was elected as a Reform UK councillor for the Hylton Castle ward in May, avoided jail after a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work for the offence under the Communications Act 2003.
The comments were made in a Facebook post in March 2024, in which Gibbins wrote: “Carnt believe the amount of nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!”
Party Response and Calls to Resign
Reform UK, which won control of Sunderland City Council earlier this year, confirmed to the Chronicle that Gibbins has now been expelled from the party. He had previously been suspended, reinstated, and then suspended again after being charged.
A spokesperson for Sunderland Labour Group said his “disgraceful behaviour is unbecoming of a councillor” and that he should resign immediately. Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson, the MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said the verdict “confirms Reform’s ranks are riddled with blatant racism”. She added: “Reform knew Gibbins had made these comments, but they allowed him to stand to represent Sunderland. Rather than acting to root out racism, it took a police investigation to force Gibbins out of the party.”
Court Arguments and Appeal
Gibbins, of Briar Vale Road, argued in court that his comments had been “naughty” but were not meant literally and that he “wouldn’t dream of joking about killing people”. His legal team said the councillor, now listed on the city council’s website as an independent, intended to appeal at Crown Court.
Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said that Gibbins’ comment “conjures up despicable images” and implied that Nigerians were “somewhat less than human, stripping people in that group of humanity”. Gibbins, a divorced former salesman who runs a stall in Sunderland city centre printing novelty gifts, told the court that he “thought it was a tongue in cheek joke”.
Prosecution and Reform Response
Christopher Atkinson, from the Crown Prosecution Service in the North East, said: “Racially charged and grossly offensive comments like this cross the line between free speech and criminal behaviour. They can be particularly upsetting and dehumanising for those in affected communities.” He added that those posting similar material could face prosecution.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Labour forget that only they and the BNP have been condemned by the EHRC for antisemitism. That Bridget Phillipson can throw around accusations of racism when her own party has welcomed back individuals like Diane Abbott who attempted to deny that anti-Jewish racism exists is astonishing.”
