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A councillor has been suspended by her party after posting on social media that she hopes Donald Trump is “assassinated”.

Redcar and Cleveland councillor Laura Benson was reacting to a national newspaper report that the US President is to lift a ban on elephant trophies being allowed into the US.

The report said a ban on elephant remains from animals being legally hunted in two African countries is to be reversed.

But that infuriated the Liberal Democrat councillor, who posted on Facebook in reply: “Someone wants to cut the orange ****** head off and use that as a trophy or sell it for rubber.

“I hope he is assassinated. His wife wants to be ashamed of herself too. Standing by that.”

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The Liberal Democrats have confirmed she has been suspended.

“The party is investigating this as a matter of urgency."

A spokesman said: “Much as we disapprove of Donald Trump, such comments are completely unacceptable and extremely tasteless.”

Cllr Benson has represented the Newcomen ward in Redcar since March. She topped the poll in a by-election called after the death of Cllr Chris Abbott.

Before the confirmation by the national party of the suspension, a spokesperson for Redcar Liberal Democrats said: “Councillor Benson’s remarks on a private social media account, although not meant literally, were highly inappropriate and in very bad taste.

“She has apologised unreservedly for any offence this may have caused.”

Cllr Christopher Massey, the council’s Cabinet member for resources, said: “We have not received any complaints about this issue and understand that it relates to a comment added to a personal Facebook page by Ms Benson as a private resident, rather than in her capacity as a councillor.

“That being the case, it is likely this matter would fall outside of the Code of Conduct which applies to councillors generally and, accordingly, would not be something about which the council could take any particular action.”

The Gazette has attempted to contact Ms Benson for comment.