Sir Keir Starmer has called on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to sack the deputy leader of Lancashire County Council over a social media post he shared.

It emerged on Tuesday that Simon Evans - second in command of the Reform UK administration at County Hall and the cabinet member for children and families - had shared a Facebook post which featured a picture of Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet.

It also included a comment, which the Guardian reports said: "You dozy cow, you should be shot."

County Coun Evans - who represents the Skelmersdale Central division - later deleted the post and issued an apology on Facebook stating that he "did not notice the accompanying text" and had made "a genuine mistake".

The original post was accompanied by what it has since transpired was a fake quote, wrongly attributed to the MP, stating: “I voted against the grooming gang enquiry.”

In the Commons, the Prime Minister said: "When death threats were made against [Mr. Farage], I stood at this despatch box and condemned them outright.

"If he has any decency or backbone, he will stand up, apologise, condemn the comments and sack the individual in his party."

However, Mr. Farage offered no apology.

County Coun Evans said on Tuesday: “Yesterday, I shared a post featuring Natalie Fleet MP highlighting how she voted on the grooming gang inquiry. As many of you know, this is an issue close to my heart and something I have been campaigning on tirelessly even before I was elected.

“Unfortunately what I did not notice was the accompanying text of the Facebook post that was created by an unknown user. As soon as this was pointed out, I immediately deleted the post. I would never intentionally call for or wish violence upon anyone, regardless of their political beliefs. This sort of rhetoric has absolutely no place in our politics.”

He added: “I would like to sincerely apologise to Ms Fleet and anyone else for the offence caused. This was completely unintentional and was a genuine mistake that we can all make from time to time, especially on social media.”

A Reform spokesperson said: “After investigating the post, the party considers it an honest mistake and will not be taking any action. We accept Coun Evans’ apology and version of events.”

Ms. Fleet told The Guardian: “Posts like this are so common I don’t bat an eyelid. However, they remind me why my husband and children begged me not to stand.

“My first thought is always for the loved ones who have to see it, and any women who may be put off of getting into politics in the future.”

“The last Labour government helped me so much; I got into politics because I wanted to pay that forward and help others in my community. Whatever party, we should be able to fight for our areas without death threats as standard.”

The Guardian also reported that Ms. Fleet had successfully campaigned for the government to remove parental responsibility from sex offenders where a child is born of rape.