AN APOLOGY has been issued by a Taunton Deane councillor after a social media gaffe involving a Hitler parody video.

A video emerged on Holocaust Memorial Day comparing John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC), to Hitler and the proposed council merger with West Somerset with that of the situation in Berlin at the time of Hitler’s rule.

Lib Dem Cllr Jefferson Horsley shared the video on his Twitter page but deleted the post after having a change of heart.

The video was dubbed “shameful” by Cllr Williams and Avon and Somerset Police later confirmed they had received a complaint alleging malicious communications on YouTube in relation to TDBC and that officers are investigating.

Leader of the Lib Dems, Cllr Simon Coles, condemned the tweet, saying personal attacks had no place in politics. In reaction to Cllr Horsley’s actions, Cllr Coles removed the whip, meaning Cllr Horsley cannot attend council meetings as a Lib Dem, and will instead, for the time being, be an Independent councillor.

Cllr Coles asked Cllr Horsley to apologise for his actions publicly, in person, and in writing.

Cllr Horsley’s apology read: “Wisdom is supposed to come with old age. It doesn’t always happen. I made an error of judgement in the world of sound-bites in which politics operates today.

“The outcome of the mistake in my opinion is being magnified out of all proportion to the actual hurt it has caused but those of us who are in the gladiatorial ring of politics it is very much the world of thumbs up or thumbs down. Most appear to be thumbs down at present for me.

“I am not too proud to apologise for any person harm I have caused. I am horrified at how my impulsive (with a touch of naivete) behaviour has been interpreted and I am making amends as sincerely as I can.

“I am hurting too.”

Cllr Coles confirmed an internal investigation is taking place locally within the Lib Dems, but it could be dealt with regionally or nationally, and it is not known how long the investigation will take.

A complaint was also made to TDBC’s standards board, for which an investigation will take place following the police probe.

A TDBC spokesman said: “The council has received a complaint under its standards procedure. However, as there is a police investigation under way, that takes primacy. The council is liaising with the police.”

“The apology has been noted, however, the matter is subject to an ongoing police investigation in which case we would make no further comment.”