A CONSERVATIVE councillor has agreed to pay “substantial” damages and legal costs to Jeremy Corbyn for a tweet containing a fake photograph of the former Labour leader at the scene of the Liverpool terrorist attack.

Paul Nickerson, a councillor on East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has apologised and taken “full responsibility” for the doctored tweet, which showed Mr Corbyn laying a poppy wreath at the burning taxi outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and was captioned with the word “unsurprisingly.”

Mr Nickerson said the post gave the “completely untrue impression” that the Labour MP supports terrorist violence and said the tweet was “wrong.”

Mr Corbyn said the tweet “did a disservice to all those affected by the attack and their loved ones,” adding that he would use the settlement to support charities close to his heart, including one in Liverpool. 

Mr Nickerson, who has been suspended by his council’s Conservative group, tweeted his apology today.

He said: “Without reservation, I fully withdraw any suggestion or inference that Jeremy Corbyn is a supporter of terrorist violence. The tweet was wrong and I retract it.

“I unreservedly and sincerely apologise to Mr Corbyn for the hurt and distress that has been caused to him by the tweet.”

Mr Corbyn instructed his solicitor to bring legal proceedings for libel following the publication of the original tweet.

Following the settlement he welcomed the move, adding: “The bomb attack on Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Remembrance Sunday was a horrific crime, which could have killed or maimed countless victims, including new mothers and their babies.  

“So I welcome his decision to apologise for his defamatory post, to agree not to repeat the tweet, which he has deleted, and to pay substantial damages and legal costs.”