A hard-left councillor in Burnley has been condemned after she took to Facebook to claim that Conservative speaker Charlie Kirk brought his shocking assassination “upon himself”. Fiona Wild, who quit the Labour Party in August to sit as an independent, told her social media followers: “I don’t condone violence but I do think [Kirk] made himself a target and brought this upon himself…
“So good riddance to a not very nice man.” In an even more worrying comment, Ms Wild added: “America need to get rid of the other tit now”, a possible reference to President Donald Trump. Ms Wild was immediately condemned by local Conservative leader Jamie McGowen branding the remarks “vile”.
Councillor McGowen blasted: “I think this what Cllr Fiona Wild forgets is that two small children have woken up without their daddy this morning.
“Because of nothing more than his political beliefs. It’s such a disgusting thing to say which shows a nasty side I didn’t know she had.
“She needs to reflect on her vile comment and resign from the council.”
A complaint has been lodged with Burnley Borough Council, which will now be asked to determine whether the social media post violates the code of conduct.
Last night the Deputy Prime Minister also found himself in hot water following Mr Kirk’s heartless murder, as it was pointed out David Lammy previously made furious accusations against the US commentator.
Turning Point UK, the British branch of the conservative group founded by Mr Kirk, shared comments from Mr Lammy in which he described Turning Point UK as evidence that “sinister forces are taking hold of our country”.
The group slammed Sir Keir Starmer, who issued words of commiseration following his death, warning: “The language your party and the wider left uses to describe people like Charlie and us is the reason why we face this violence.”
“Shame on you.”
Asked today about Mr Lammy’s language, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We must all be free to debate openly, freely and without fear.
“There can be no justification for political violence. The right to free speech in the UK is longstanding, and we can all be very proud of that.
“We will always defend it.”
Mr Kirk was shot in the neck in Utah last night as he debated college students on a university campus.
He leaves behind a wife and two children.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk. It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.”