Northumbria Police have charged Reform councillor Glenn Gibbins. Gibbins attracted attention over his comments relating to Nigerian people, with this controversy having now led to the police’s involvement:

BREAKING: A Reform UK councillor in Sunderland has been charged with posting a grossly offensive comment after writing in 2024 that Nigerians should be melted down to fill in potholes pic.twitter.com/hNcf8QUIQk

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) July 29, 2026

Reform’s Glenn Gibbins

Gibbins successfully ran to become a Reform councillor in May this year. Reform subsequently suspended Gibbins while they investigated the controversial comments, reinstating him in June. Now, Northumbria Police have released the following statement:

A man has been charged with posting a grossly offensive comment on social media.

Glenn Gibbins, a councillor for Sunderland City Council, has been charged with the offence under the Communications Act 2003.

The charge is in relation to a post from 2024 which referenced the Nigerian community.

We received a report in relation to the post in May this year and carried out an investigation. The Force submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, who subsequently authorised the charge.

The 66-year-old, from the Sunderland area, is due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court next month.

We are aware there has already been significant interest in relation to this individual and the social media post and we’d urge people not to speculate both online and in the community in relation to this case.

A Reform UK spokesperson has since said:

The party is aware of the situation involving Cllr Gibbins. We will monitor the verdict closely

Featured image via the Canary

By Willem Moore

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