Reform UK Reinstate Councillor Who Said Nigerians ‘Should Be Melted Down’

Reform UK have reinstated a councillor who said Nigerians should be meted down to fill potholes.

Glenn Gibbins, who was elected in the Hylton Castle ward in Sunderland last month, made the remarks on social media in 2024.

In the now-deleted post, he said: “Carnt [sic] believe amount of Nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!”

He told local paper ChronicleLive that his posts were “intended as jokes”, and were “made in extremely poor taste and with poor judgement”.

“I fully recognise that these comments were entirely inappropriate and I sincerely apologise to anyone who may have been offended by them,” he added.

It has now emerged that following an investigation, he has been reinstated by his party.

A Reform UK spokesperson said Gibbins has been “issued with a final written warning”

“He has apologised for making the post and accepts that it was made in extremely poor taste showing poor judgment,” the spokesperson said.

But Labour chair Anna Turley said Reform leader Nigel Farage “has sunk to a new low”.

“Nobody who has made such disgusting comments is fit to serve the public – shamefully Nigel Farage clearly thinks that’s not the case,” she said.

“He must reverse this decision and prove that there is no place for racism in Reform UK.”

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