A Conservative councillor has been dramatically forced to resign after triggering widespread outrage with a social media post suggesting controversial American commentator Charlie Kirk had "brought assassination upon himself".
John Lamb, who represented the Billericay East ward on Basildon Council, posted the inflammatory remark on X (formerly Twitter) in response to news that Kirk had been targeted in an alleged assassination plot.
The since-deleted post read: "He brought assassination upon himself. He knows why." The comment remained visible for approximately 30 minutes before being removed, but not before being captured by alert social media users.
Swift Party Condemnation and Investigation
The Conservative Party moved rapidly to address the controversy, with a spokesman confirming they had launched an immediate investigation. "We have suspended the councillor pending investigation and he has been instructed to remove the post and apologise," the statement read.
Andrew Baggott, leader of the Basildon Conservative Group, expressed his dismay at the situation. "I was horrified when I was made aware of the post. I have spoken with Mr Lamb and he has agreed to stand down as a councillor with immediate effect," he stated.
Public Backlash and Security Concerns
The post generated immediate condemnation from social media users and political commentators alike. Many expressed shock that an elected official would make such remarks about someone who had been targeted by violence.
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative organisation Turning Point USA, had recently been the subject of an alleged assassination threat, making the councillor's comments particularly sensitive and ill-timed.
Political Fallout and Resignation
Mr Lamb's resignation marks a swift conclusion to a political controversy that erupted and was resolved within hours. The speed of the response underscores the zero-tolerance approach political parties are taking to inflammatory social media content from their representatives.
The councillor's departure creates a vacancy in the Billericay East ward, requiring the council to make arrangements for a replacement following standard procedures.
This incident serves as the latest example of how social media missteps are continuing to claim political careers across the spectrum, highlighting the heightened scrutiny facing public figures in the digital age.
