Anger over 'vulgar' Facebook post from Lewes council leader

Lewes District Council leader Zoe Nicholson used her private account to post a collage of images parodying the Government’s yellow and green “Stay alert, control the virus, save lives” poster.

One picture states: “Don’t be c***s, the Government is c***y enough for everyone, don’t be c***s”.

Another reads: “Do you as you please, we’re not fussed, if some of you die.”

Alongside the pictures Councillor Nicholson wrote: “Vote for your favourites.”

Lewes Conservatives leader Councillor Isabelle Linington said the post was “totally irresponsible”.

Lewes Conservatives leader Councillor Isabelle Linington said Cllr Nicholson's Facebook post was 'totally irresponsible'

“This was very poor judgement by someone who should know better,” she said.

“It is the duty of elected leaders to uphold the high standards of behaviour in public life that we are all bound by in the council’s code of conduct.

“This is totally irresponsible behaviour from someone in authority who should be encouraging residents to follow the Government’s advice during the crisis not posting outright vulgarity.”

In response Cllr Nicholson apologised to those who took offence to the use of the word “c***”.

But she said the post was intended to draw attention to the Government’s “terrible failure” to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “This satirical post about the Government “stay alert” message was shared by me in a private capacity and it goes without saying that it is not to be taken at face value.

“The fact is that this post intended to draw attention to the Government’s terrible failure to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.”

The row came as Cllr Nicholson and deputy leader Councillor James MacCleary blasted the Government’s announcement that restrictions on exercising and sunbathing would be lifted.

People can now spend as much time outdoors as they like provided they stay two metres apart from everyone else and do not meet more than one person at a time from another household.

Lewes District Council deputy leader James MacCleary worried infections could rise in Lewes due to the Government's relaxation of lockdown measures

Lib Dem Cllr MacCleary worried there would be no way to police the number of people travelling to Lewes district.

“We are now told that we can travel to use public spaces. Much of our district is in a national park and on the coast which means that we could see a lot of people travelling here,” he said.

“The Government has been far from clear about how this will be policed especially as so few facilities are open.

“We cannot risk another spike in infections due to lack of clear national leadership.”

Cllr Nicholson said the loosening of lockdown measures “makes no sense at all”.

“We cannot open our toilets safely right now as our cleaning staff have been redeployed on to other Covid-19 crisis duties,” she said.

“We risk people travelling long distances to find themselves inconvenienced. This has not been thought through.

“This will risk spread of the virus from high to lower-risk areas like our own.”

The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set u p to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund