UK councillor charged over alleged offensive Facebook post about Nigerians

A Reform UK councillor, Glenn Gibbins, has been charged over an allegedly offensive social media post he made about Nigerians in 2024.

According to reports, Gibbins wrote on Facebook in March 2024: “Can’t believe amount of Nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes.”

The charge was disclosed on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by Politics UK in a post on its official X account, which said Gibbins had been charged over the remark.

Gibbins, who was elected during the May 2026 local elections, was initially suspended by Reform UK after the post resurfaced. However, he was reinstated in June following an internal disciplinary process after apologising and receiving a final written warning.

The party said Gibbins acknowledged that the post was made in “extremely poor taste” and accepted that it reflected poor judgement.

Northumbria Police confirmed that Gibbins has been charged under the Communications Act 2003 for allegedly sending a grossly offensive message.

He is scheduled to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

Reacting to the development, a spokesperson for Reform UK said the party was aware of the case and would closely monitor the outcome of the court proceedings.