Reform UK councillor sues Lib Dem authority over library stall promoting 'chemsex'

A Reform UK councillor is suing his Liberal Democrat-led council after he was found to have breached its Code of Conduct when he criticised a library stall for showcasing a large prosthetic penis. Michael Fife Cook, the leader of Reform UK on Devon County Council, has been told to apologise to officers after condemning a stall that promoted "chemsex" at a Young Person's Day event. On The Eddystone Trust's website, the local sexual health charity responsible for the stall, it describes "chemsex" as "a term referring to the sex had between men that have sex with other men, whilst under the influence of three particular drugs: Crystal Meth, GHB and Mephedrone." The stall, which received a complaint from a mother, was on display as part of Exeter’s Out There Queer Fest, which had been promoted as a "bold celebration for LGBTQIA+ young people and friends", held at Exeter Library. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The 72-year-old great-grandfather, who has also been instructed to complete a bespoke training course as well as apologise, has refused to do both. He has instead chosen to take the Liberal Democrat-run council to court. The dispute, which may ultimately require a judicial review in the High Court, could land Devon's taxpayers with a bill of up to £800,000 in legal costs. The event was held on October 19 last year, where Mr Fife Cook noticed the "sexual paraphernalia" on display at The Eddystone Trust's stall. The booth, which was positioned next to a children's play area, also contained a promotion of "chemsex" and a "penis-measuring device". Michael Fife Cook is suing his Liberal Democrat-led council after he was found to have breached its Code of Conduct when he criticised a library stall for showcasing a large prosthetic penis | FACEBOOK: MICHAEL FIFE COOK The charity describes itself as an "innovative chemsex service" that "offers support and advice for men who have sex with other men and are part of the chemsex scene." GB News has approached The Eddystone Trust for comment. In November, Mr Fife Cook pulled no punches in his letter to councillors and officers. "I think this makes it clear our council officers can’t be trusted in safeguarding children," he said, adding that "this makes us all complicit in promoting and encouraging sexualisation of children". The email resulted in complaints from two senior officers, who claimed Mr Fife Cook had breached the council's Code of Conduct. By July, he had been found guilty of failing to show courtesy and respect, and of bringing himself or the office into disrepute. LATEST NEWS British woman, 89, who started collecting for Oxfam as teen raises £500,000 over seven decades Heathrow third runway cast into doubt as Andy Burnham 'unconvinced' Communist protesters scale Battle of Britain memorial during London pro-Palestine march Michael Fife Cook said the incident 'makes it clear our council officers can’t be trusted in safeguarding children' | GOOGLE As a result, the council ordered him to apologise to both officers and undergo training with the Council’s Monitoring Officer. Mr Fife Cook told The Telegraph that it was "an attempt to gag me, but I won’t be gagged". "I am here to speak for the people, and that has to be the priority over everything else," he added. With no internal appeals mechanism available, his sole route to contest the standards board ruling is through a judicial review application in the High Court. "They [the council] have brought this on themselves," he added. The Free Speech Union has thrown its weight behind Mr Fife Cook's challenge, with the organisation launching a crowdfunding campaign to cover his legal expenses. His legal team has characterised his safeguarding concerns as "political expression" made in the public interest. In correspondence with the council, his lawyers stated: "In carrying out his role as an elected councillor, he had every right to raise the concerns he raised, including in the measured manner in which he raised them." Lord Young of Acton, the Free Speech Union's general secretary, said: "It beggars belief that a councillor has been penalised for bringing his council into disrepute for raising safeguarding concerns about an LGBTQ event at which a dildo was displayed in front of children at a public library. "Councillors must be free to speak up about issues of concern to their constituents without risking being put through a disciplinary process by town hall Sir Humphreys wearing rainbow lanyards." Lord Young also noted that "one mother complained that she had to explain to her children, aged six and seven, what the giant prosthetic penis was." The event took place at Exeter Library | GOOGLE Libraries Unlimited, the charity running the Castle Street venue, conducted its own inquiry and determined that "no specific safeguarding incidents" had taken place. The council maintained that all materials were educational in nature and contained nothing pornographic or explicit. Liberal Democrat council leader Julian Brazil conceded the event "wasn't as we would have hoped" and that "lessons have been learnt." Mr Fife Cook is now seeking a formal public apology from the authority along with damages, which he has pledged to donate to charity. The council has been given until next week to respond. A spokesman for Devon County Council said: "We have full confidence in Libraries Unlimited to run safe and appropriate events as they do across the county week in, week out." They did not respond when questioned on the legal claim. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter