'Unacceptable' LibDems suspend councillor who posted threatening pro-trans graphic

The Liberal Democrats have suspended a party councillor who posted a threatening pro-trans graphic to social media on the day Graham Linehan was arrested. Councillor Ian Bristow of Berkhamsted council took to X on the day of Mr Linehan's arrest to share a cartoon graphic of a young girl holding a gun, captioned: "Shut the f*** up TERF".

TERF is a well-known internet slang word standing for 'trans-exclusionary radical feminism'. This includes anyone who believes that the definition of 'woman' does not include men who identify as female. Mr Bristow's social media outburst came in response to an internal debate about the party's federal board elections, and in response to a post by Natalie Bird, a former LibDem parliamentary candidate who was barred from standing due to her gender critical views.

Responding to the pro-trans post replying to her, Ms Bird said that Mr Bristow "clearly needs urgent training on social media, professionalism and misogyny."

The Lib Dems have now said that they have suspended their councillor over the post, branding it "unacceptable".

In a statement to the Daily Express a spokesman said: "Councillor Bristow has been suspended from the local Liberal Democrat group.

"His tweet was unacceptable and it's right that he has taken it down and apologised."

Mr Bristow also apologised for the post, adding: "I have since taken [it] down. On reflection I accept that the tone and graphic used were inappropriate."

His graphic sparked immediate social media backlash, including from Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

Ms Rowling asked if he had deleted the post due to intervention by the Liberal Democrats, "or didn't you expect to have to face public scrutiny for sending women abusive gun memes?"