The Staffordshire Moorlands MP has said she stands in “total solidarity” with a Biddulph councillor who became the victim of sexualised AI images.
Speaking in the House of Commons last month, Dame Karen Bradley asked Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood if she would join her in condemning comments made by Sandbach town councillor Dave Poole.
As we reported in June, Coun Poole said Coun Salt had “brought it on herself” when a video of her created using artificial intelligence (AI) surfaced in an online community group.
The video featured an image of Coun Salt dressed in tight-fitting gym-wear, singing a song which included the lyrics: “a nice loud trump but not from my ass” and other sexual language.
She said the images used to create the video had been taken from her social media account.
Speaking at the time, she said: “If people want to criticise me for the things I do as a councillor and my opinions, that’s totally fine, but making sexualised videos of me and posting them online is something very different. It is illegal under the Online Safety Act.”
Responding to Coun Salt’s comments, Coun Poole argued that men in local government were also subject to abuse.
He said: “Men get just as much abuse, but it isn’t talked about. If your balls aren’t big enough to take shit in politics, then why are you getting involved?”
Coun Poole’s words came to the attention of Dame Karen, who spoke in Parliament last month after members had paid tribute to former MP Ann Widdicombe following her suspected murder at her home in Devon.
Dame Karen said: “In light of the news about Ann Widdicombe, the safety of politicians is something we should all consider. The Home Secretary may be aware of the situation with Staffordshire Moorlands District councillor Jill Salt, who has been the victim of sexualised AI images.
“I don’t agree with Coun Salt on many things, but on this I stand in total solidarity with her. Will she join me in condemning the comments of Reform councillor Dave Poole, who said Coun Salt needed to grow bigger balls, in order to do the job?”
Mutters of “disgraceful” and “shameful” came from other MPs sat around the House.
Miss Mahmood responded: “Those comments are a disgrace, and I would hope all members across this House, regardless of their party political persuasion, would take a unified stance on all instances of either violence against women and girls, threats, abuse, explicit sexual images and indeed those that break the law as well.”
Coun Poole was asked to comment.
