A Reform UK councillor has been suspended after being accused of being behind a social media account that made posts threatening to kill Sir Keir Starmer.
John Allen, who was sitting on Northumberland County Council as Reform’s Shadow Housing & Planning member, is now dealing with an inner investigation over the alleged threats.
The group made the hyperlink by pointing to an announcement final month that the YouTube commenter had been elected to the county council.
In response to the arrest of Irish comic Graham Linehan, the account wrote: “Meanwhile, 5 armed police are busy at Heathrow arresting a comedy writer for ‘hurty words’, I can’t wait to see Starmer swinging from a lamp post!”
In one other put up, the account wrote: “I’d shoot Starmer myself if I had the weapon and opportunity.”
After the alleged social media posts got here to mild, Reform UK confirmed Mr Allen had been suspended pending an investigation.
“Cllr Allen has been suspended pending investigation,” a Reform UK spokesman mentioned.
Reform UK rosettes are seen earlier than the beginning of the convention at Westpoint Area
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Reform UK chief Nigel Farage has additionally not too long ago known as on the police to research threats to his life within the wake of Charlie Kirk’s horrific assassination in Utah earlier this month.
Talking in South Wales, the Clacton MP but once more challenged the emergence of “two-tier” justice in Britain.
Mr Farage mentioned: “These individuals who posted on TikTok, open TikToks, calling for me to be killed yesterday, let’s see if the police go and arrest them, lets?
“Because if they don’t, we truly are living in two-tier Britain.”
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the scenes on the Unite the Kingdom rally
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Mr Farage has additionally been focused by hard-left critics in recent times, with two individuals throwing milkshakes over the Reform UK chief and a 3rd hurling objects on the 61-year-old in Barnsley.
In the meantime, police arrested a person following final weekend’s Unite the Kingdom rally in London after he was allegedly filmed threatening to kill the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir responded to the rally by describing the demonstration as “plastic patriotism”, including that it had been greater than “just very bad behaviour”.
The Prime Minister mentioned: “It sent a shiver through so many of our communities who now feel more scared than they did before. I understand that.”
Tesla chief Elon Musk was additionally accused of echoing violent rhetoric.
“If this continues, that violence is going to come to you, you will have no choice,” Mr Musk informed as much as 150,000 attendees by way of video hyperlink.
There have been rising issues about on-line threats directed in the direction of elected politicians following the tragic killings of MPs Jo Cox in 2016 and Sir David Amess in 2021.
The Metropolitan Police acknowledged in 2019 that there had been “a clearly increased volume” of incidents affecting MPs.
Nigel Farage has additionally condemned violent threats directed in the direction of him
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“However abuse, threats and intimidation ought to by no means be a part of this job.
“It threatens the well being of our democracy, and forces individuals to decide on between the general public good and their very own security and wellbeing.
“I am grateful to Members, their staff and the witnesses we have heard from to date for sharing their experiences with us and look forward to working with colleagues on the next phase of the Conference’s work.”
