Wednesday 17 November 2021

Pressure continues to mount on a Beverley councillor at the centre of a social media storm over a doctored photo depicting Jeremy Corbyn at the scene of Sunday’s Liverpool terror attack.

As reported in later bulletins on Beverley FM yesterday, Cllr Paul Nickerson, who represents Minster and Woodmansey Ward on East Riding Council, has been suspended from East Riding Council’s ruling Conservative group, who also announced an immediate investigation will now take place.

The image of a burning taxi, with the former Labour leader holding a wreath superimposed into the scene, was posted on Paul Nickerson’s Twitter and Facebook accounts. Cllr Nickerson has since apologised and the postings taken down. 

He claimed he had not authorised the posts, describing them as “political banter” and “a prank gone wrong”. In a statement he said his accounts had been “compromised” by friends playing a prank, adding that he deleted the comments as soon as he was able.

As Cllr Nickerson faced mounting criticism and calls for him to resign, East Riding Council leader Jonathan Owen, who also chairs the Conservative group, announced that Cllr Nickerson had been suspended by the group, although he remains as a ward councillor.

He described the postings as “inappropriate and offensive” and told Beverley FM: “All people in public life, irrespective of politics, should be united in condemning the terrorist attack that took place outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday. It is not the time for inappropriate remarks, however intended, and they will not be tolerated in this Conservative Group. Residents should expect their elected representatives to act in an appropriate manner at all times.” 

In other news, knife bins have been placed outside Beverley police station as the Humberside Force highlights its support for a national campaign to tackle knife crime. As part of Operation Sceptre the bins allow members of the public to anonymously and safely hand in weapons and the bins will remain in place until Sunday.

[More information here]