‘Tories are f*****g awful’: Lib Dem councillor apologises and deletes tweet

Elgan Hearn, local democracy reporter

A Liberal Democrat councillor has apologised and deleted a tweet in which she used a swear word about Tories.

Jackie Charlton, the councillor for Llangattock on Powys County Council, as well as chair of the Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrat Association, said that the “Tories are f*****g awful”.

At the time she tweeted Cllr Charton on Monday, January 11, she was involved in a discussion with other Liberal Democrats on the social media platform about the UK Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer’s recent performance, and the merits of a proportional representation voting system.

As part of the conversation, Cllr Charlton tweeted: “You obviously won’t be supporting us then.

“Never mind.

“I don’t think you are going to change your mind so perhaps time to stop this dialogue.

“Take care and let’s all agree on one thing, the Tories are f*****g awful.”

The tweet was picked up by Cllr James Evans (Gwenryfed).

 

‘Respect’ 

Cllr Evans is the prospective Conservative Senedd election candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire. He said: “Nice to see a local Liberal Democrat County Councillor respect people with other political views.

“I believe in debate and holding people to account but that language is not acceptable.”

He was joined in his condemnation of Cllr Charton’s use of the word by other Conservative politicians and activists,  including Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative Association chairman, Peter Weavers.

Mr Weavers said: “In one swift tweet the Chair of @BanRLibDems calls the 21958 people of Brecon and Radnorshire who voted Conservative at the General Election ‘f*****g awful’.”

Cllr Charlton has spoken to the Local Democracy Reporting Service saying she was “hugely embarrassed” by the situation.

She apologised and deleted the tweet on Monday night.

She has also spoken  to Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Glasbury) leader of the Powys Council Liberal Democrat and Green group and apologised to him and the group.

Cllr Charton said: “I made some inappropriate comments and apologise unreservedly.

“I am just down and depressed about where we are. Sorry.”

Powys County Council have been contacted for a comment.