Reform UK Councillor Charged Over Social Media Post, Party Discipline Under Scrutiny

Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, of Sunderland, faces charges under the Communications Act 2003 over a 2024 social media post about the Nigerian community. The CPS authorised the charge after police were alerted in May 2026, when he was elected. Labour's Bridget Phillipson wants Farage to explain Gibbins' reinstatement after an internal probe. He appears at South Tyneside magistrates on 21 August. Reform now fields over 1,400 councillors across 14 councils.