Glenn Gibbins #

Introduction #

Glenn Gibbins, a newly elected Reform UK councillor for Sunderland City Council, was suspended from the party in May 2026 over a now-deleted social media post in which he called for Nigerians to be “melted down” to fill potholes. After an internal disciplinary process, he was reinstated in June, and in July 2026 he was charged by police over the post.

Background Information #

Gibbins, 66, from the Sunderland area, was elected to represent the Hylton Castle ward on Sunderland City Council on May 7, 2026, in the same local election in which Reform UK took control of the local authority. He finished ahead of nine other candidates with 1,295 votes. The BBC reported that Gibbins, who also appeared as “Gibbons” in some party material, was elected as Reform UK gained local election seats across the UK.

Following his election, the council noted that newly elected councillors were required to formally accept the role, which meant complying with a code of conduct when acting in an official capacity. Gibbins had yet to accept the role as of May 13, 2026, according to Sunderland City Council.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

Days after the election, campaign group Hope Not Hate brought to light a now-deleted social media post attributed to Gibbins and believed to date from March 2024, in which he wrote: “Should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!” The BBC reported that he was accused of posting racist comments online that suggested the Nigerian population in Sunderland should be melted down to “fill in potholes,” and that he had also been accused of misogyny in earlier posts.

On Sunday, May 10, deputy leader of Durham County Council Darren Grimes said Gibbins had been suspended, but Reform UK initially said that was not correct and that he was under investigation; the party later confirmed the suspension. On Tuesday, May 12, Reform UK confirmed to LBC that Gibbins had been “suspended pending investigation,” making him the sixth Reform UK councillor to be suspended within days of the local elections.

Public Reaction and Consequences #

The controversy drew immediate attention from senior Reform UK figures. Grimes described the episode as “a failure of the vetting process,” while party deputy leader Richard Tice, appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, refused to directly address the matter but said he condemned “anything that is wrong and inappropriate,” adding: “The key point is voters have heard all of this smearing and sneering against all of us and they voted for more Reform because they want action, they want delivery, they’re sick of the failures of the Tories and Labour.” Tice came under fire on Sunday for refusing to condemn Gibbins’ comments.

The suspension was part of a broader wave of disciplinary action within Reform UK after the local elections. LBC reported that four further Reform UK councillors were suspended on Monday, including Ben Rowe over a social media post depicting a bomb being dropped on Mecca and councillors Ashley Monk and Jo Monk, while councillor Jay Cooper had his party membership revoked after comments denying the Holocaust, and Stuart Prior resigned from his elected positions with his membership revoked over alleged racist posts.

Current Status #

In June 2026, Gibbins was reinstated by Reform UK and took up his position on the council as the representative for Hylton Castle ward. A Reform UK spokesperson said at the time: “Following an internal disciplinary process, Cllr Gibbins has been readmitted to the party and issued with a final written warning.”

On July 29, 2026, Northumbria Police confirmed that Gibbins had been charged with posting a grossly offensive comment on social media under the Communications Act 2003. Police received a report about the post in May 2026, and the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorised the charge. Gibbins was due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in August 2026. A police spokesperson urged the public not to speculate about the case, and a Reform UK spokesperson said: “The party is aware of the situation involving Cllr Gibbins. We will monitor the verdict closely.”

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The episode upended the start of Gibbins’ political career: suspended days after winning his seat, reinstated in June with a final written warning, and then charged by police in July. As of the Sunderland Echo’s July 2026 report, the criminal proceedings remained pending, with Gibbins expected to appear in court in August. The case also added to the pressure facing Reform UK in the aftermath of the May 2026 local elections, in which a series of newly elected councillors were suspended or resigned over past social media posts and the party’s vetting process came under scrutiny.