September 5, 2019 2.37 pm This story is over 59 months old

Suspension of councillor behind offensive Corbyn tweet extended

He will be suspended until November
West Lindsey District Councillor Roger Patterson.

The suspension of a Conservative councillor who tweeted that Jeremy Corbyn “should swing from the gallows like Saddam Hussein” has extended, and he has been told he must carry out social media training.

Scampton ward councillor Roger Patterson, who sits on West Lindsey District Council, later said he deeply regretted his “stupid, off the cuff remark” after being suspended from his party.

West Lindsey District Council leader Giles McNeill undertook an investigation into the tweet and told a Conservative Group Meeting yesterday that his colleague had breached the group’s rules by not observing the highest standards in he had breached both the party and the council’s code of conduct.

In response, the group censured Councillor Patterson for his tweet and suspended him until November 8, 2019.

He added that the councillor would be required to undertake training on social media and the code of conduct.

WLDC leader Councillor Giles McNeill. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Councillor McNeill said: “We recognised the seriousness of Councillor Patterson’s mistake and in my recommendations reduced the maximum six month suspension we could impose because he had pretty quickly realised his mistake and issued a comprehensive and unconditional apology.”

Councillor Roger Patterson deleted the original tweet shortly after posting it and later apologised for its contents.

At the time, he said: “I’m not going to defend myself because it was quite a stupid thing to say. It wasn’t in anyway inciting anybody to do anything, it was a stupid remark when I was tired and late at night.

“I should know better, but I’m a human being, we make mistakes and all say stupid things that we regret.

“I would never suggest or condone using violence against anyone and it certainly was not my intention to indict anything,” he said.

“I sincerely apologise to Jeremy Corbyn and anyone else offended.”

Councillor Patterson will now sit as a non-aligned independent during his suspension.

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