Councillor apologises after 'black people' statement

A WELSH Labour councillor has apologised for saying in a council meeting: “What are we going to do about all the black people coming to Briton Ferry?”

- CONOR GOGARTY

Multiple witnesses told The Post that Susan Davies - who represents Craig-Y-Darren on Briton Ferry town council in Neath Port Talbot - asked the question during the meeting on June 25, shocking her fellow councillors.

When we called Ms Davies she accepted making the remark but denied holding racist views, adding: “It wasn’t intended that way. I was just acting on several complaints I'd had. But it wasn’t intended against the blacks as such.

“It just came out wrong, definitely wrong and I'm really upset about what I said. I would like to apologise to everybody about that.”

A complaint has been made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and we understand the Labour party is investigating the matter.

In a statement the council told us the language was “outdated, inappropriate, and does not reflect the values of Briton Ferry town council, adding: “We are taking this matter seriously and are reviewing appropriate next steps in line with our code of conduct and professional advice.”

Ms Davies, a former teacher who has served on the council since around 1997, said she did not believe there should be fewer black people living in Briton Ferry but that she was simply raising a concern at the request of constituents.

“I don’t think there are too many,” she added. “It’s just that other people do. If people ask you to bring things up that’s what the council is there for.”

Could she not have challenged her constituents’ views rather than giving them a platform? “I don’t know,” she replied. “I couldn't say. It’s just I was asked to bring it up by not just one person. But it was brought up at the wrong time and in the wrong way.”