An East Lancashire councillor has resigned over a social media comment she posted about the assassination of American right-wing figure Charlie Kirk being ‘good riddance’.
Burnley’s Cllr Fiona Wild quit after the leader of Burnley Council Conservative group Cllr Jamie McGowan had demanded she stand down from the authority over her now-deleted remarks on Facebook about the death of the 31-year-old father of two shot dead during a political debate at Utah Valley University.
The Lanehead ward Independent had posted: “I don’t condone violence, but I do think he made himself a target and brought this on himself so good riddance to not a very nice man!
“America needs to get rid of the other tit now.”
A Burnley Council spokesperson said: “People may be aware of a social media post made by former Independent councillor Fiona Wild.
“We can confirm that Ms Wild has now resigned from her position.
“Ms Wild was serving as an independent councillor at the time of her resignation, and therefore was not affiliated to, or representing, any political party group within Burnley Council.
“Burnley Council does not condone the comments made in that post and has received complaints under the Code of Conduct for Members which will be investigated by the head of legal and democratic services.”
Cllr McGowan – a 36-year-old father of one with a second child due shortly – said: “I think that what 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.
“I think many will expect a full public apology.
“But all I can say is, good riddance to a not very nice woman.”
Hapton with Park ward’s Cllr McGowan had also lodged an official complaint with Burnley Borough Council which will have to decide whether former Cllr Wild, who recently resigned from its Labour group and the party, had breached the authority’s code of conduct.
Ms Wild has been approached for comment.
Mr Kirk was a close ally of US President Donald Trump and credited with helping turn out the youth vote for him during his successful re-election campaign.
President Trump said on his Truth Social channel: “This is a dark moment for America.”
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