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PM calls for Reform councillor sacking over repost

Paul BurnellNorth West
News imageHouse of Commons Sir Keir Starmer in a dark blue suit, white shirt and dark blue tie has greying slick backed hair and black spectacles. He is flanked by David Lammy on the left who has greying hair and a similar outfit. Lammy is Afro-Caribbean. Rachel Reeves is on his right - she has long brunette hair and wears a dark blue suit and bright blue blouse.House of Commons
Sir Keir Starmer says Nigel Farage should "apologise, condemn the comments and sack" the party's deputy leader in Lancashire

The prime minister has demanded the sacking of the deputy leader of Lancashire County Council after he reshared a social media post that appeared to call for an MP to "be shot".

Reform UK councillor, Simon Evans, has apologised after sharing a post about Natalie Fleet over the issue of grooming gangs - but said he "did not notice" the offensive text accompanying it.

Sir Keir Starmer made the call amidst an exchange with Reform leader Nigel Farage during Prime Minister's Questions.

Farage did not respond. The BBC has contacted Reform UK for a comment.

Starmer recalled that when Farage himself had death threats made against him, he had denounced them.

"When death threats were made against the Member for Clacton [Farage], I stood at this despatch box and condemned them outright," he said.

"If he has any decency or backbone, he will stand up, apologise, condemn the comments and sack the individual in his parties. Will he do so?"

News imageLancashire County Council An image of County Councillor Simon Evans, he is not smiling, has dark hair and is wearing a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie.Lancashire County Council
Reform's Simon Evans has apologised to MP Natalie Fleet over the repost

On Tuesday, Reform said the post, which has since been deleted, was a "genuine mistake", and the party felt no further action was needed.

Evans said he shared a post about Fleet, who is MP for Bolsover in Derbyshire, from an "unknown user", containing a misattributed quote suggesting she had voted against having an inquiry into grooming gangs.

He went on to say that he "did not notice" the accompanying offensive text and that he immediately deleted it as soon as it was pointed out.

Evans said: "I would never intentionally call for or wish violence upon anyone, regardless of their political beliefs.

"This sort of rhetoric has no place in our politics."

News imageNatalie Fleet, the MP for Bolsover, who is a white woman with brown hair with a blonde streak at the front. She is wearing a bright pink blazer over a floral print top. She is smiling.
Natalie Fleet is a Labour MP for Bolsover in Derbyshire

Evans apologised to Fleet and described the matter as "a genuine mistake that we can all make from time to time, especially on social media".

Posting on X, Fleet said: "Posts like this are so common I don't bat an eyelid.

"But they remind me why my husband and kids begged me not to stand.

"We should be able to fight for our areas without death threats as standard."

Reform previously said: "We accept Councillor Evans' apology and version of events."

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