Green Party clears North East Derbyshire councillor over social media posts about suicide

A Green Party investigation into historic social media posts made by one of its respected Derbyshire members about suicide when he was a schoolboy have been dismissed and their exposure during an election has been referred to as ‘vexatious’.

NE Derbyshire District Cllr Frank Adlington-Stringer had been alarmed when Tweets from his teens were revealed during his bid to become a national Green Party Deputy Leader in the summer and they included dialogue with a friend from 2016 when they were teenagers when they had both been worried about getting into trouble for not producing enough coursework for an art course.

A Green Party Disputes and Complaints Referral Group spokesperson explained that after Cllr Adlington-Stringer had deleted the ‘tweets’ and had apologised this was deemed to have been an acceptable resolution and the matter has subsequently been filed as ‘dismissed’.

The spokesperson stated: “While the tweets unquestionably contained concerning material, DCRG considered this response to be an adequate informal resolution to the allegations outlined in the complaint form, and did not regard further consideration as a complaint to be necessary.”

The old social media post was circulated by an undisclosed source on the final day of campaigning for the national Green Party’s Deputy Leadership and it revealed comments from Cllr Adlington-Stringer about death and hanging and although he deeply regrets posting the comments he stressed they were wrongly perceived out of context and they were not his views then or now.

Cllr Adlington-Stringer, who referred himself to a Disciplinary Committee for due process and apologised for any offence caused, said: “I made an incredibly insensitive comment but not actually meant at the time. There are a number of Tweets like that taken out of context.

“They are things that are regrettable that I would not say today. People grow and change and they are not the same people they were when they were doing their GCSEs.”

One of the Tweets involves a dialogue between Cllr Adlington-Stringer and a friend which he says was made when he was a teenager and a schoolboy and not a councillor or a public figure and it refers to death and hanging.

But at the time, after the friend had stated they were ‘also planning on killing themselves’, Cllr Adlington-Stringer posted: “people are far too negative about death, I think that sometimes it’s just the right thing to do.”

And after the person in the dialogue posts ‘correctamundo’, Cllr Adlington-Stringer went on to post: “I think hanging is the best way. Firstly it’s very DIY and cost effective, most of the tools I already own.”

Cllr Adlington-Stringer, who deeply regrets making the comments in any context, explained the person he was chatting with was never in any danger of killing themselves and he still sees them today, and that youngsters from his generation were among the first to be able to suddenly and unwittingly broadcast comments online during their adolescence.

The Green Party DCRG spokesperson added that members recognised ‘the value and priority of reaching a fair and early resolution to the case rather than an assumed hearing’ as per the Green Party’s constitution.

However, the Green Party DCRG has urged Cllr Adlington-Stringer to thoroughly check his social media accounts for other examples of historic tweets which contain exclusionary terms and sentiments and consider deleting any further examples found.

Cllr Adlington-Stringer has said there is a serious conversation to be had about children commenting on social media and related regulation and how this might affect youngsters moving forward in their lives and careers.

The NE Derbyshire District Councillor narrowly missed out on a national Green Party Deputy Leadership role but he has since been appointed as the national Green Party’s spokesperson for social security and welfare.

He said young people will put things on social media that they will regret in ten years’ time but they grow and change and he believes the reposting of his schoolboy Tweets was linked to efforts to derail his deputy leadership campaign which he found very disappointing.

The Green Party DCRG’s investigation also considered the complaint to have been ‘vexatious’ due to an indication that its primary purpose was to ‘subdue a candidate’ with requested sanctions being to ‘reconsider suitability of this candidate’.

Cllr Adlington-Stringer has said people should be moving away from this type of politics and addressing the issues that matter because the public are sick and tired of this kind of in-fighting after he believed the reposting of his schoolboy Tweets was linked to efforts to derail his campaign.

The Green Party previously stated it never condones suicide or advocates that anyone should take their own life and it believes strongly that there needs to be increased funding for mental health care especially for young people.

A Green Party spokesperson has stated that Cllr Adlington-Stringer made clear these were comments made a long time ago when he was a teenager and he has stated that this has been taken out of context and does not reflect his current or historic views on suicide or on tackling mental health problems.

Derbyshire County Council has formed the Derbyshire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Partnership Forum so that organisations from across the county can work together and help tackle the issue of suicide.

Its website page offers helpful online links including ‘suicide prevention strategy’, ‘free suicide awareness training’ and ‘mental health training’ with a list of contacts for those needing support including the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service provided by mental health practitioners and it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be phoned on 0800 028 0077.

The Samaritans charity which provides contact for those with overwhelming issues and suicidal thoughts provides a 24-hour support service with a helpline on 116 123 and online support via contact Samaritans online.