A Devon county councillor is pursuing legal action against his local authority after being censured for raising concerns over a stall promoting gay sex at a public library event. Michael Fife Cook, leader of Reform UK on Devon county council, had criticized the presence of a display at Exeter library that included explicit items, such as a large purple prosthetic penis, and information on "chemsex"—a term referring to sexual activity among gay and bisexual men involving the use of illicit drugs.

The display was part of the Out There Queer Fest held last year at the library, an event marketed as a "bold celebration for LGBTQIA+," and was organized by the Eddystone Trust, a local sexual health charity. The stall, located near a children’s art and colouring area in the library foyer, featured sexual paraphernalia and literature relating to chemsex, prompting Mr. Fife Cook to raise safeguarding concerns while the library remained open to young children.

In an internal email to senior council officials and fellow councillors, Mr. Fife Cook expressed his belief that council officers had failed in their duty to protect children, stating that the display was inappropriate for minors. In response, two senior council officials filed complaints accusing him of breaching the code of conduct and bullying staff. The Devon county council’s standards board later ruled that Mr. Fife Cook had failed to show respect to officials and had brought the council into disrepute, ordering him to issue a written apology and complete a tailored training program.

Mr. Fife Cook, a 72-year-old great-grandfather, has refused to comply with the censure and instead initiated a legal claim against the council, arguing that his concerns were a matter of political expression and public interest. He contends that the council’s disciplinary action infringes on his ability to represent constituents and voiced his intention to pursue a judicial review in the High Court. He warned that protracted litigation could potentially cost local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Free Speech Union has begun crowdfunding to support his legal challenge. Lord Young of Acton, the organization’s general secretary, criticized the council’s decision, describing it as an attempt to silence a councillor raising safeguarding issues.

The Eddystone Trust, which declined to comment before publication, offers support and advice for men involved in the chemsex scene and provides “chemsex safety packs” as part of its outreach.

Julian Brazil, leader of Devon’s Liberal Democrat county council group, acknowledged that the library event did not meet expected standards and said lessons had been learned. However, he emphasized that child safety remains a top priority for the council. Libraries Unlimited, the charity responsible for operating the Exeter library, conducted an investigation and reported no specific safeguarding incidents during the event. A council spokesman reaffirmed confidence in Libraries Unlimited to manage safe and appropriate programming.