Reform councillor apologises for trans lanyard post

A senior Reform UK councillor has apologised for a social media post singling out a council employee who appeared in a recruitment campaign wearing a trans flag-coloured lanyard.

Michael Squires said he regretted any distress or upset he caused by highlighting an individual employee wearing the light blue, pink and white ID holder, which he objected to.

Squires said he felt the lanyard - featured in a Leicestershire County Council Facebook campaign to recruit forklift truck drivers at the authority's depots - was "not politically neutral".

His post resulted in two complaints, which were considered by the council's member conduct panel in a meeting, behind closed doors, in May.

The panel said Squires's post, published in October, was likely to have had an adverse impact on staff and the county council's reputation.

A 346-word apology from Squires, who is the council's cabinet member for adult social care, has subsequently been posted on the authority's website.

"Whilst my intention was to comment on what I saw as a matter of public policy and the presentation of neutrality within public authorities, I recognise that my post was inappropriate in the context in which it was made," he said.

"I accept that the post involved an identifiable member of staff who was acting in accordance with council policy.

"Regardless of my intention, I acknowledge that my comment could reasonably be perceived as a criticism of that individual, and I regret any distress or upset this may have caused."

He added: "Though I did feel that I had worded it in a way which avoided any criticism of the individual, I accept that it has not been perceived in that sense, and accept responsibility for that.

"I would like to offer a clear and unreserved apology to the member of staff and to any other complainants.

"It was never my intention to cause offence or to single out any individual, and I am sorry that my actions had that effect."

Squires, councillor for the Valley division, said he immediately removed his post when asked to do so.

He had only been a councillor for five months at the time of the post, he added.

Squires said: "It can be challenging for new councillors with no political experience as we have to consider that what we post is legal, meets the code of conduct, is politically relevant, does not breach the member/officer protocol, and is in line with party ideology if a councillor is a member of a political party, as I am.

"I got it wrong on this occasion."

Squires said he had undertaken social media and code of conduct training and had "reflected carefully" on the standards expected of him as a councillor.

Squires told the BBC he accepted he should not have reposted the image identifying the staff member.

However, he said: "I make no apology whatsoever for arguing that public servants, paid by the taxpayer, should remain politically neutral.

"That's not an extreme view."

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