Lib Dem councillor suggests he would gas anti-Ulez campaigners.
Michael Tarling says he would ‘happily fill the room with carbon monoxide’ in response to post about meeting against new zone
A Liberal Democrat councillor suggested that anti-Ulez campaigners should be gassed with carbon monoxide in a social media post denounced as offensive.
Michael Tarling, a councillor for Christchurch, in Dorset, said on Twitter that he would “happily fill the room with carbon monoxide” in response to a photograph showing a church hall where a meeting against an ultra-low emission zone charge being introduced in Edinburgh was to be held.
Mr Tarling, a chartered construction consultant who once appeared in pantomime, posted his reply on Friday morning.
The Lib Dem leadership has decided not to suspend him, preferring instead to send him on an awareness training course. A party spokesman said: “Michael has apologised for his comments and has agreed to take on the appropriate awareness training.”
The councillor’s account was quickly suspended by Twitter for violating its rules in a move welcomed by several of the social media platform’s users.
One user wrote: “Thankfully, @MichaeljTarling appears to have had his account suspended after a spot of hate speech. Tarling has let his party down [LibDems]. Tarling was apparently happy to fill a room of #Together supporters with carbon monoxide.”
Alan Miller, the founder of the #Together group, which organised the Edinburgh meeting, wrote: “Rather than smears, open debate what’s needed. Neither Liberal nor Democratic it seems.”
#Together opposes the introduction of Ulez charges anywhere in the country, claiming a ban on older diesel cars has no “measurable health benefits” and limits people’s freedoms and ability to earn a living.
In his Christchurch council biography, Mr Tarling is described as having “a keen interest in the environment and sciences”.
He is a member of Discover Science Christchurch, a group of scientists and engineers hoping to open a new science attraction in the town, and says he “is proud to have appeared as the Genie of the Lamp in panto a few years ago”.
Earlier this year, Mr Tarling was instrumental in pushing through plans to introduce 20mph speed limits across Christchurch.
He did not respond to requests for comment. DT.
