The chair of a district council has resigned from her post after sharing a controversial post on her Facebook account. Lynn Sterry had shared a meme on her Facebook page that said ‘Like and share if you want the Golliwogs back’ and has since confirmed her resignation as Chair of the Forest of Dean District Council.
**Update** The Monitoring Officer has spoken to Councillor Lynn Sterry and as a result we can confirm that Cllr Sterry has resigned as Chair of the Forest of Dean District Council’s Standards Committee and as Chair of Cinderford Town Council. pic.twitter.com/k4aRt8XNCQ
— FoDDC (@FoDDC) February 22, 2018
The childhood toy – a black skinned doll with curly hair and pronounced lips – is now regarded as racist despite its popularity in the mid-20th century and has been the subject of some controversies. In 2011, MP Bill Etheridge was suspended from the Conservative party after posting photos to his Facebook profile of himself posing with a knitted Gollywog as part of the Campaign Against Political Correctness. A spokesperson for the Forest of Dean District Council “We are dismayed at the comments made by Councillor Lynn Sterry and wish to confirm that this in no way represents the views of the Forest of Dean District Council.
We can confirm that Councillor Sterry has resigned as Chair of the Forest of Dean District Council’s Standards Committee and as Chair of Cinderford Town Council.”