Police in Wales are investigating a councillor over a social media publish which confirmed him brandishing a gun and saying he needed to ensure “there wasn’t any English people trying to cross the channel”.
Jon Scriven, a Plaid Cymru consultant on Caerphilly Council, has additionally been suspended by the Welsh nationalist celebration over the publish, as he faces accusations of anti-English “xenophobic”.
The Plaid councillor later deleted and apologised for the “ill-judged” picture posted on Facebook, taken on the Ogmore-by-Sea village which overlooks the Bristol Channel throughout from England.
South Wales Police mentioned it was “aware of a post on social media featuring a man brandishing what looks like a rifle at Ogmore-by-Sea”.
Michelle Conquer, the pressure’s superintendent, mentioned: “An allegation of malicious communications has been reported to us and we are investigating the matter.”
The full publish, uploaded by Scriven on 8 August, mentioned: “Ogmore-by-Sea tonight for a quick swim and make sure there wasn’t any English people trying to cross the channel.”
It sparked outrage and accusations of xenophobia in direction of English individuals. Welsh Tory chief Andrew RT Davies tweeted on Monday that he was “speechless”, including “This sort of xenophobic attitude is beneath us.”
Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda in south Wales, described the councillor’s publish as “appalling”.
Welsh Liberal Democrats chief Jane Dodds MP mentioned in a press release: “There is a clear implication of violence and xenophobia in this post.”
She added: “Whether or not it was intended as a joke or not, it is entirely inappropriate for an elected official to make such comments, when they should know better. With so much hate in politics the last few years we should be trying to build bridges, not stoke division further.”
Caerphilly Senedd member Labour’s Hefin David tweeted: “We should be seeking to unite and address real concerns such as the cost-of-living crisis. Wrapping yourself in a flag and hating outsiders won’t help a single person in need.”
A day after the publish was circulated, Scriven wrote on Facebook: “I would like to apologise for any offence caused by my now deleted Facebook post. It was ill-judged and I have apologised to the group leader Lindsay Whittle who has accepted my apology.”
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson mentioned he had been suspended pending an investigation. “Councillor Scriven’s now deleted post was inappropriate and goes against Plaid Cymru’s views and values. He was right to apologise for any offence caused,” they mentioned.
The Welsh Tory chief known as on Plaid chief Adam Price to not “let another scandal rage on without decisive action”.
Mr Davies gave the impression to be referring to the current saga involving Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards, who was suspended then readmitted into the Westminster celebration after receiving a police warning for assaulting his spouse.
Edwards, going through calls to stop as MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, later mentioned he is not going to re-join the Welsh nationalist celebration’s group with a purpose to enable for a “period of calm reflection”.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk