Sunderland Councillor Glenn Gibbins Charged Over Nigerian Population Remark

Glenn Gibbins, a councillor representing the Conservative Party in Sunderland, is scheduled to appear at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on 2 July. He has been charged with publishing written material that is threatening, abusive, or insulting, and likely to stir up racial hatred, in contravention of Section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986.

The charge stems from an online comment made by Cllr Gibbins in December 2023. The remark, posted on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that Nigeria's population was disproportionately large and implied it was responsible for the majority of the world's carbon emissions. This assertion is factually inaccurate.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation into the matter after receiving a complaint regarding the content of the post. Following their inquiry, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge against Cllr Gibbins. The Sunderland Conservative Group previously confirmed that they had reported the comment to the party's national leadership for investigation.