A Reform UK councillor has been suspended after being accused of being behind a social media account that made posts threatening to kill Sir Keir Starmer.
John Allen, who was sitting on Northumberland County Council as Reform's Shadow Housing & Planning member, is now facing an internal investigation over the alleged threats.
Campaign group Hope Not Hate claimed that the YouTube commenter @johnallen7807, which allegedly made the remarks, was likely to be Mr Allen’s account.
The group made the link by pointing to an announcement last month that the YouTube commenter had been elected to the county council.
In response to the arrest of Irish comedian Graham Linehan, the account wrote: “Meanwhile, 5 armed police are busy at Heathrow arresting a comedy writer for ‘hurty words’, I can’t wait to see Starmer swinging from a lamp post!”
In another post, the account wrote: "I'd shoot Starmer myself if I had the weapon and opportunity."
After the alleged social media posts came to light, Reform UK confirmed Mr Allen had been suspended pending an investigation.
“Cllr Allen has been suspended pending investigation," a Reform UK spokesman said.
Reform UK rosettes are seen before the start of the conference at Westpoint Arena
|GETTY
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also recently called on the police to investigate threats to his life in the wake of Charlie Kirk's horrific assassination in Utah earlier this month.
Speaking in South Wales, the Clacton MP yet again challenged the emergence of "two-tier" justice in Britain.
Mr Farage said: “Those people who posted on TikTok, open TikToks, calling for me to be killed yesterday, let’s see if the police go and arrest them, shall we?
“Because if they don’t, we truly are living in two-tier Britain.”
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the scenes at the Unite the Kingdom rally
| PAMr Farage has also been targeted by hard-left critics in recent years, with two people throwing milkshakes over the Reform UK leader and a third hurling objects at the 61-year-old in Barnsley.
Meanwhile, police arrested a man following last weekend's Unite the Kingdom rally in London after he was allegedly filmed threatening to kill the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir responded to the rally by describing the demonstration as “plastic patriotism”, adding that it had been more than “just very bad behaviour”.
The Prime Minister said: “It sent a shiver through so many of our communities who now feel more scared than they did before. I understand that.”
Tesla chief Elon Musk was also accused of echoing violent rhetoric.
"If this continues, that violence is going to come to you, you will have no choice," Mr Musk told up to 150,000 attendees via video link.
There have been growing concerns about online threats directed towards elected politicians following the tragic killings of MPs Jo Cox in 2016 and Sir David Amess in 2021.
The Metropolitan Police stated in 2019 that there had been “a clearly increased volume” of incidents affecting MPs.
Nigel Farage has also condemned violent threats directed towards him
| PAFollowing a separate investigation earlier this year, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “Participating in free and fair democratic processes – as a candidate or a Member of Parliament - is a privilege, and we expect that to come with robust political discourse and debate.
"But abuse, threats and intimidation should never be part of this job.
"It threatens the health of our democracy, and forces people to choose between the public good and their own safety and wellbeing.
"I am grateful to Members, their staff and the witnesses we have heard from to date for sharing their experiences with us and look forward to working with colleagues on the next phase of the Conference’s work.”
GB News has approached Mr Allen for comment.