Finally, a Welsh Tory councillor who is accused of saying that “all white men should have a black man as a slave” has been suspended.
County councilman Andrew Edwards of Pembrokeshire allegedly said: “There is absolutely nothing wrong with the skin color” in a 16-minute footage.
I believe that every white man should own a black man or a black woman as a slave, you know.
Additionally, it is alleged that the former magistrate claimed that black people are of a “lower class than whites.”
On Wednesday, Edwards referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman after the clip was reported by the Welsh news outlet Nation.Cymru.
Edwards has neither confirmed nor denied the audio clip and it is not clear when or where the clip was recorded or who the man was speaking to.
Other councillors have said to have identified the voice in the audio clip as that of Edwards’.
But the Welsh Conservative Party confirmed today that Edwards, a licensee of a Swansea pub and restaurant, has been suspended.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Tories said: ‘Andrew Edwards has been suspended by the party whilst an investigation is carried out.’
Senedd Welsh Tories leader Andrew Davies added: ‘The views expressed in the recording are disgraceful, abhorrent and are not shared by the Welsh Conservatives.
‘As the matter is being investigated, it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
Edwards left the party group for the council on Tuesday, having represented the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward as a Tory councillor since May 2022.
A magistrate until he resigned in July, Edwards is also a former school governor and owner of a barber shop called Freestyle Barbers in Haverfordwest.
He said in an earlier statement: ‘I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me.
‘This is why I have self-referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent evaluation.
‘It is now in the hands of legal experts and the Ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment now.’
The Pembrokeshire council said: ‘We are aware of an allegation being made and have referred the matter to the ombudsman. It would be inappropriate to comment further.’