A Conservative councillor who allegedly said white men should have black men as slaves has been suspended by the Conservative Party pending an investigation. Andrew Edwards is a Pembrokeshire ward councillor for the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward.
He allegedly said on a recorded audio clip: "Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. I think all white men should have a black man as a slave, or black woman as a slave, you know. There's nothing wrong with skin colour, it's just that they're lower class than us white people, you know."
The context of the recording is not yet known and Cllr Edwards has not confirmed nor denied whether he is the person in the recording. He re-issued a statement saying: "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." You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
READ MORE: Councillor alleged to have said 'all white men should have a black man as a slave'
Cllr Edwards is also a magistrate, school governor, hairdresser, licensee of a Swansea pub and restaurant, and a Freemason. He added: "It is now in the hands of legal experts and the Ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment now."
A Conservative Party source confirmed Cllr Edwards had now been suspended as an investigation had been opened. Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, told the BBC: "The views expressed in the recording are disgraceful, abhorrent and are not shared by the Welsh Conservatives."
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