MP reports Northamptonshire parish councillor over social media posts

Councillor Philip Weston, who sits on Hartwell Parish Council, has been accused of making posts on his social media account, calling for the Prime Minister to be “hung and slaughtered”, as well as suggesting that a military coup is needed.

MP for Northampton South, Mike Reader, told the Local Democracy Reporter Service (LDRS): “We are aware of threats made by Philip Weston towards senior politicians, including calling for them to be hung and slaughtered.

“No one deserves to have their life threatened for doing their job.”

Mr Reader said that police had also been notified of the posts.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police told the Chronicle & Echo: “We received a complaint about the content of a number of social media posts. The posts provided to police have been reviewed and it has been determined that no offences have been committed.”

Councillor Weston gave a statement to the Chronicle & Echo on Monday May 11 in which he claimed the allegations were part of a “smear campaign”. Councillor Weston’s response is published later in the article.

The Facebook posts, which were made under an account in Mr Weston’s name, showed him allegedly sharing posts about Prime Minister Keir Starmer, commenting he “deserves to b****y hang” and to “slaughter the b******d”.

On a post about how Keir Starmer’s fuel tax will destroy British farming, the text read “we need a military coup or something to put a stop to this now”. Another post which shared a news article about a ‘migrant boat’ bonfire says “If only!”.

Councillor Weston was contacted for comment by LDRS, but did not respond. Since the LDRS reached out, all posts on the page referenced are no longer visible or appear have been deleted from the page.

A Hartwell Parish Council spokesperson said: “Hartwell Parish Council treats allegations of racist or hateful conduct very seriously. The council stands firmly against all forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination in council life and in society in general. We are committed to fostering a community that is inclusive, respectful, and fair to all.

“It would be inappropriate for the council to publish commentary on allegations about an individual councillor while the matter is being considered through the proper processes. Complaints about councillor conduct are dealt with through the Monitoring Officer/standards framework and, where relevant, are referred to Northamptonshire Police.

“The council cannot add anything further at this stage.”

Following publication of the story, Mr Weston sent a statement to the Chronicle & Echo on Monday May 11.

In it, Mr Weston said his family had farmed in Hartwell since the 1820s and he became an active member of Hartwell Parish Council in November 23.

“I would like to think of myself a proactive and complimentary addition to the team, not only as a local farmer, with family history, but as a qualified architectural technologist that has knowledge of planning and developments,” said.

He said he was “surprised to say the least” by the allegations being made and described it as a “smear campaign”.

Although not referenced in the Chronicle & Echo article, other media reported that Mr Weston's wife, Laura, was standing for election for the vacant “Hackleton & Roade” seat for West Northamptonshire Council. Mrs Weston won the seat with a convincing majority.

He said he received an email requesting a response from the LDRS to the Facebook posts on Tuesday May 5 to his parish email address but did not open it as “my farm work always must take priority”.

Mr Weston said the series of Facebook posts were shared on a personal basis, not as a councillor.

“They were screenshotted and taken out of context, to give the impression of direct threat against Kier Starmer and gave the impression that the police were involved in a hate speech crime,” he said.”

Mr Weston said he “wholeheartedly agrees” with Mr Reader stating that “no-one deserves to have their life threatened for doing their job”. But he said that his comments should have been differentiated between an in-context opinion and a direct threat.

Mr Weston said: “The first post I shared related to a post that the MP Robbie Moore had shared December 2025, regarding the tragic circumstance of a farmer that had reached a point of such desperation, as a result of the bullying tactics from Labour’s new Inheritance Tax proposals that he had committed suicide, in order to protect and pass his farm onto his children.”

He said he “spoke his mind on exactly what I thought of him and ended my post, alluding to the fact he’s the one that deserved to hang, not the farmer”.

“Was I busy building a gallows and directly threatening to hang him, No!” Mr Weston said.

“The second post I shared was from Feb 2025, where Ben Leo a GB News reporter, was in my view metaphorically slaughtering Kier Starmer in the press.

“And I shared the statement “Excellent, slaughter the B@£tard!”

“Was I readying the livestock trailer to go and round him up and take him to the local abattoir for slaughter, no!

“Other posts related to a bonfire day headline, and my apparent orchestration of a military coup, as though I somehow was going to go out and round up Boat Migrants and was of some influence in the military, in order to do such a thing.

“Both posts taken out of context in a similar manner, with no direct threat, or organisation of such threat,” he said.

Mr Weston said he received no contact Northamptonshire Police. “They have been dismissed by them, as not breeching any law,” he said. Mr Weston added that he would remain part of the parish council.

Mr Weston said he was grateful that the matter did not affect his wife’s election result.

“The process of democracy, people turned up in record numbers, 50.4%, up from 36% a year ago, whereby my wife secured 31% of the votes,” he said.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Monday May 11, 2026, to include a response from Councillor Weston.