Tory was eventually suspended after saying ‘white men need black slaves’ | UK News
A Welsh Tory councilor who allegedly said ‘all whites should have a black man for a slave’ has finally been suspended.
In a 16-minute clip, Pembrokeshire Councilor Andrew Edwards reportedly said: “There’s nothing wrong with skin color at all.
“I think all white men should have a black man as a slave or a black woman as a slave, you know.”
The former judge is also accused of saying blacks are “inferior to whites”.
On Wednesday, Edwards referred to the Public Services Ombudsman after the clip was reported by Welsh news outlet Nation.Cymru.
Edwards has neither confirmed nor denied the audio clip, and it’s not clear when or where the clip was recorded, or who the man spoke to.
Other council members reportedly identified the voice in the audio clip as Edwards’.
But the Welsh Conservative Party confirmed today that Edwards, a licensee of a pub and restaurant in Swansea, has been suspended.
A spokesman for the Welsh Tories said: “Andrew Edwards has been suspended from the party pending an inquiry.”
Senedd Welsh Tories leader Andrew Davies added: “The views expressed in the record are disgraceful, abhorrent and not shared by Welsh Conservatives.
“As the matter is under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Edwards left the party group for the council on Tuesday, having represented the community of Haverfordwest Prendergast as a Tory councilor since May 2022.
Edwards was a judge and former school governor and owner of a barbershop called Freestyle Barbers in Haverfordwest until his resignation in July.
He said in an earlier statement: “I am aware that such serious allegations are being leveled against me.
“So I have referred myself to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent assessment.
“It is now in the hands of legal experts and the Ombudsman. It would be unfair to the proceedings if I commented on it now.’
Pembrokeshire Council said: “We are aware that an allegation is being made and have referred the matter to the Ombudsman. It would be inappropriate to comment further.’
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