Liverpool Council domestic abuse chief probed over ‘misogynistic’ mother-in-law tweet

Steve Reddy has deleted post and unreservedly apologised but is still facing calls to stand down

Liverpool (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A senior Liverpool City Council director who leads the authority’s domestic abuse strategy is being investigated after posting a “misogynistic” tweet joking about his mother-in-law drowning.

Steve Reddy, who is in charge of children’s services, has faced calls to stand down after he joked about his partner’s mum dying and ordering a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt.

He has since deleted the post - made on his personal account - and apologised “unreservedly for the unintentional offence caused”.

But the incident has left council bosses under pressure to take action against Mr Reddy.

Chief executive Tony Reeves and acting mayor Wendy Simon said the situation was now being probed.

In a joint statement, they said the authority “does not condone misogyny or violence of any kind”.

They went on: “We are aware of a tweet posted by our director of children’s services Steve Reddy, on his personal account. An investigation will take place and the appropriate action will be taken.”

But a number of people have already said the only appropriate course of action would be for the director to stand down from his position as chair of the authority’s domestic abuse strategy group.

Lucille Harvey, a Labour council candidate at the upcoming elections, said: “Steve Reddy's joke showed seriously flawed judgement, which lost him the respect and support of those across Liverpool.”

The Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) said it was concerned that he had “made a misogynistic 'joke' - minimising VAWG [violence against women and girls] by humour”.

The group added: 'How can someone with no understanding of the impact of such humour lead on [domestic abuse]?”

The controversy comes less than a month after it was announced the council would be partially taken over by government commissioners following a three-month investigation which found the regeneration, planning and highways departments were mired in scandal.