Councillor shared 'blatantly racist' Facebook post

Gary Byrne was asked to make a private apology in writing and attend training

A councillor has been asked to apologise after a conduct panel concluded he shared a "racially discriminatory" post on Facebook.

Gary Byrne reposted a message which suggested an election candidate had used Photoshop to lighten their skin colour in order to gain votes.

Two people complained that the post was "blatantly racist".

Mr Byrne, an independent councillor in Thurrock, Essex, said he was the subject of a "witch hunt".

An investigating officer for a code of conduct panel at Thurrock Council said in a report: “The post by councillor Byrne falls into the category of abusive behaviour and could be reasonably regarded as adversely affecting the public’s confidence in them being able to fulfil their role, as the post was, even by councillor Byrne’s own admission, poorly judged."

'Diminish the atrocity'

The post was reshared in a private Stanford-le-Hope group on Facebook which had 38,000 followers.

The investigating officer said regardless of whether it was Mr Byrne’s intention or not, the inference that a person would have to lighten their skin to get votes, is “offensive to an individual’s characteristics, promotes negative stereotypes and amounts to behaviour that is racially discriminatory”.

One of the complainants said using Facebook in a personal capacity did not "diminish the atrocity".

The panel said Mr Byrne had acknowledged the post could be seen as racist and that it was ill judged, but that no apology had been given and no remorse shown.

Mr Bynre told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had been subject to a "witch hunt" and highlighted that he was not the originator of the post.

The panel asked for Mr Byrne to make a private apology in writing and attend training on equalities and diversity, and on social media.

The decision was due to be discussed at a council meeting on Thursday.