Suspended Sunderland Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins makes first court appearance over 'offensive' Nigerian remarks
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.
Newly-elected Sunderland City Councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in connection with a Facebook post from March 2024, before he was elected.
Northumbria Police announced last month that he had been charged under the Communications Act 2003 with posting on Facebook a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.
The force said the post referenced the Nigerian community.
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.
Police began an investigation when the post came to light in May.
Gibbins, who was elected to the council the same month, 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 he was charged, the party suspended him again and he is now listed on the Sunderland City Council website as an independent councillor.
A Reform spokesperson said on Thursday: “Cllr Gibbins has been suspended from Reform UK pending the outcome of his case.”
Houghton and Sunderland South Labour MP Bridget Phillipson believes Gibbins should have been suspended earlier by Reform UK.
She said: “The appalling allegations facing Glenn Gibbins will have shocked many members of the public.
“It’s utterly astonishing that Reform didn’t suspend this councillor when it first came to light. It shouldn’t have taken a police intervention for Nigel Farage to take action against him.”