A Reform UK councillor has been charged with posting a grossly offensive message on social media after allegedly making a racist comment about Nigerians.

Glenn Gibbins, of Sunderland city council, has been charged with the offence under the Communications Act 2003, Northumbria police said.

The force said the charge was in relation to a post from 2024 which referenced the Nigerian community. It was alerted to the post in May, the month Gibbins was elected, and launched an investigation before the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge.

The 66-year-old from Sunderland is due to appear before South Tyneside magistrates court on 21 August.

A Northumbria police spokesperson said: “We are aware there has already been significant interest in relation to this individual and the social media post. We would urge people not to speculate both online and in the community in relation to this case.”

Gibbins was one of more than 1,400 Reform UK councillors elected across England in May, as Nigel Farage’s party took control of 14 councils, including Sunderland, Barnsley, St Helens and Thurrock.

The chair of the Labour party, Bridget Phillipson, called on Farage to explain why Gibbins was reinstated after an internal disciplinary process.

Phillipson said: “Nigel Farage needs to urgently explain why he welcomed Glenn Gibbins back into Reform just last month.”