Liberal Democrat Councillor Apologises After Saying He'd Gas Anti-ULEZ Campaigners

Liberal Democrat Councillor Michael Tarling tweeted that he would "happily fill the room with carbon monoxide" in response to a post advertising a meeting of people concerned about financially-crippling ULEZ charges.

Tarling, a councillor for Christchurch in Dorset, wrote on Twitter that he would "happily fill the room with carbon monoxide" in response to a photograph showing a church hall where a meeting against an ultra-low emission zone charge being introduced in Edinburgh was to be held.

Alan Miller, who founded the #Together group, which organised the Edinburgh meeting, said "Rather than smears, open debate what's needed. Neither Liberal nor Democratic it seems."

Councillor Tarling, who is also a chartered construction consultant, had his Twitter account swiftly suspended following the shocking tweet, but the Liberal Democrat party has decided not to suspend him, choosing instead to send him on an 'Awareness Training Course'.

A party spokesman said "Michael has apologised for his comments and has agreed to take on the appropriate awareness training."

In a statement to the Daily Echo, Councillor Tarling said "I posted a comment to a tweet early on Friday morning in response to an anti-ULEZ rally. The message was clumsy and ill-considered by me, I deleted it. The next time I accessed Twitter (now X), unfortunately my account was suspended so I was unable to post an apology or make a retraction".

"I have apologised via the Liberal Democrat press office and in person to Vikki Slade. It was a stupid comment made in the moment for which I am truly sorry."

Speaking to the press, Conservative Harrow Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, who has been staunchly campaigning against Mayor Sadiq Khan's adoption of ULEZ in London, said "Councillor Tarling should resign. Simple as that. His comments are an utter disgrace and come straight out of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's play-book after he called those opposed to ULEZ 'far-right, Covid-deniers and vaccine-deniers'. How a Councillor in Southern England could wade in and share such divisive, disgusting opinions on a matter relating to Edinburgh – the other end of the country, yet still remain in his post is beyond me. Saying he would 'happily' gas anti-emission zone campaigners with carbon monoxide is disgraceful. The Liberal Democrats should immediately withdraw the whip and Councillor. Tarling should do the decent thing and resign."