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Europe August 4, 2026

Councillor Faces Backlash Over Controversial Views

Councillor Faces Backlash Over Controversial Views

The debate over public displays of identity and expression has sparked a heated discussion in the community after a local councillor expressed his disapproval of a painted table.

The councillor, who represents Restore Britain, shared his views on social media, stating that the table's design was not about kindness or inclusion, but rather about imposing a specific political view on every public space.

His comments were met with strong reactions from the community, with some accusing him of being a "bigot." The councillor, however, stood by his statement, claiming that ordinary people are tired of public spaces being transformed into billboards and want to live their lives without being constantly reminded of certain ideologies.

Owain Clatworthy standing in a suit (Left) and the rainbow-coloured table (Right).

Bridgend MP Chris Elmore spoke out against the councillor's comments, emphasizing the importance of language and its impact on the community. He highlighted the need to strive for a sense of belonging and unity, rather than division and hate. The MP referenced the recent tragic events in Berlin, which served as a reminder that the fight for rights and equality is ongoing.

The councillor, who made history as Bridgend's youngest-ever county councillor at just 20 years old, doubled down on his comments, stating that "freedom isn't freedom" when it is forced on others. He shared a screengrab explaining that the rainbow represents "God's covenant with humanity."

Pictured here is Owain Clatworthy. A shopping centre is in a bizarre "woke v homophobia" battle over its rainbow-painted picnic table. The multicoloured table was blasted by a Restore Britain councillor Owain Clatworthy, 22, at a designer outlet village. Mr Clatworthy, who is a practising Christian, claimed the furniture had been turned into a "billboard" to display a "political view." But he has now been branded a "bigot" after sparking a homophobia row over the bench at the McArthur Glen shopping complex in Bridgend, South Wales. Mr Clatworthy posted a photo of the bench with the caption: ?You can?t even sit down for a coffee at McArthur Glen for five minutes without being reminded of the latest mandatory ideology. ?This isn?t about kindness or inclusion. It?s about making one political view impossible to escape in every public space. ?Ordinary people are tired of it. They just want to live their lives without every surface being turned into a billboard.? Bridgend MP Chris Elmore said "language always matters" after seeing the post by Mr Clatworthy. He said: ?Some in our community believe the freedom to be yourself is ?mandatory ideology?. ?If that?s the case ? then I welcome it, each and every day. ?For too long, LGBTQ+ persons did not feel safe in public spaces ? with the tragic recent events in Berlin serving as a timely reminder that the fight for rights never ends. ?Hate divides, kindness unites, love unites and language always matters. ?I?ll always strive to work for a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.? But Mr Clatworthy added that "freedom isn't freedom" when it is forced on others - and shared a screengrab saying the rainbow represented ?God?s covenant with humanity?. He said: ?Freedom isn?t freedom when it forces everyone to affirm contested ideas about sex, identity and speech. That?s just a new orthodoxy dressed up as liberty.? The row comes after Mr Clatworthy, who was brought up in the care system, made history when he became Bridgend?s youngest-ever county councillor at just 20 years-old for Reform. He later resigned from the party following a dispute over its candidate selection process before joining Restore Britain. WALES NEWS SERVICE Pictured here is Owain Clatworthy. A shopping centre is in a bizarre "woke v homophobia" battle over its rainbow-painted picnic table. The multicoloured table was blasted by a Restore Britain councillor Owain Clatworthy, 22, at a designer outlet village. Mr Clatworthy, who is a practising Christian, claimed the furniture had been turned into a "billboard" to display a "political view." But he has now been branded a "bigot" after sparking a homophobia row over the bench at the McArthur Glen shopping complex in Bridgend, South Wales. Mr Clatworthy posted a photo of the bench with the caption: ?You can?t even sit down for a coffee at McArthur Glen for five minutes without being reminded of the latest mandatory ideology. ?This isn?t about kindness or inclusion. It?s about making one political view impossible to escape in every public space. ?Ordinary people are tired of it. They just want to live their lives without every surface being turned into a billboard.? Bridgend MP Chris Elmore said "language always matters" after seeing the post by Mr Clatworthy. He said: ?Some in our community believe the freedom to be yourself is ?mandatory ideology?. ?If that?s the case ? then I welcome it, each and every day. ?For too long, LGBTQ+ persons did not feel safe in public spaces ? with the tragic recent events in Berlin serving as a timely reminder that the fight for rights never ends. ?Hate divides, kindness unites, love unites and language always matters. ?I?ll always strive to work for a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.? But Mr Clatworthy added that "freedom isn't freedom" when it is forced on others - and shared a screengrab saying the rainbow represented ?God?s covenant with humanity?. He said: ?Freedom isn?t freedom when it forces everyone to affirm contested ideas about sex, identity and speech. That?s just a new orthodoxy dressed up as liberty.? The row comes after Mr Clatworthy, who was brought up in the care system, made history when he became Bridgend?s youngest-ever county councillor at just 20 years-old for Reform. He later resigned from the party following a dispute over its candidate selection process before joining Restore Britain. WALES NEWS SERVICE

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