Cliff Notes
- Reform UK has decided not to suspend Councillor Joel Tetlow, despite criticism for sharing a meme referencing Adolf Hitler during VE Day commemorations.
- Tetlow claims his post, which he deleted after backlash, was meant to highlight concerns over boat arrivals, likening the situation to an “invasion.”
- Labour MP Chris Webb has condemned the party’s inaction, urging Nigel Farage to suspend Tetlow to maintain the dignity of historical remembrance.
Reform won’t suspend councillor who shared Hitler meme during VE Day commemorations
Reform UK is not suspending a newly elected councillor who has been criticised for sharing a now-deleted Adolf Hitler meme on social media.
Councillor Joel Tetlow is under fire after he posted a picture of the Nazi leader on Facebook, overlooking a map of Europe with an apparent reference to small boats crossing the Channel.
A caption on the picture said: “Why don’t we invade them slowly? A few men at a time in small boats.”
Mr Tetlow, who was elected as county councillor for Accrington North on Lancashire County Council last week, then added: “Let’s be grateful this idea was never put to him. Or the world as we know it would be a whole lot different.”
After being approached by Sky News, Mr Tetlow deleted the post. It had been uploaded on Tuesday.
In a statement to Sky News, he said: “The boats that are coming in on a daily basis of up to 1,000 per day has been happening for the past four years or more, and are showing no signs of abating.
“We do not know who these people are, and I was likening it to an invasion. Just as in Greece they used a wooden horse to sneak into Troy during the Trojan War, disguising their soldiers inside.
“Only yesterday, eight Iranians were arrested looking to attack our country. We just want to protect our great country and the citizens within it. I feel that this post is being taken out of context.”