A PLAID CYMRU MS has criticised posts made by a Bridgend county borough councillor on social media.
Member of the Senedd for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Sarah Rees said comments from Restore Britain’s Owain Clatworthy were “hateful” and also described them as “deeply divisive” and “dangerous” including one where he said Islam was not compatible with western civilisation.
The representative for Pyle, Kenfig Hill, and Cefn Cribwr was first elected as a Reform UK councillor in May 2025 before defecting to Restore Britain earlier in 2026.
The string of posts came just weeks after Cllr Clatworthy put a motion forward at a full council meeting which sought to protect freedom of speech for members. You can read more about the clash over that motion here.
A post which said “Islam is not compatible with western civilization” (sic) came shortly after another in which he said he opposed UK Government plans to expand “safe and legal” refugee routes in to the area.
He also shared a video of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zaker Choudhry’s signing in ceremony in May 2026, where an Islamic prayer was read to the chamber.
He described this as “open displays of Islamic dominance in British local government” adding: “This is not integration. This is replacement.”
However a Birmingham City Council spokesman previously said it was standard for every lord mayor to ask a local religious leader of their choice to do something at the start of the mayoral year if they wanted.
The comments led to concerns from a number of local councillors in Bridgend county as well as Ms Rees.
She said:”These hateful comments from the Restore ouncillor are dangerous, deeply divisive, and completely unacceptable.
“This kind of rhetoric does not represent the communities in Bridgend nor the values we share across Wales.
“While Reform and Restore Britain sow division and hatred Plaid Cymru will always seek to unite and strengthen our communities.”
In a response to questions from the Local Democracy Reporting Service Cllr Clatworthy, who became Bridgend’s youngest ever councillor at 20 years old, said his posts were not racist or divisive, adding that he did not feel he had breached the councillors’ code of conduct.
He said: “To Muslim families and communities in Bridgend county who see my posts and feel offended I represent every single person in my ward. Many of you live peacefully and I respect that. But I will not lie to spare feelings.
“If your faith puts sharia above British law, treats women as lesser, or punishes people for leaving Islam those beliefs are incompatible with this country. Offence changes nothing. Britain has a culture, a history, and freedoms worth defending.
“Integration is not optional. You adapt to British values or the problems will only grow. I speak this way because real leadership means telling the truth so communities can actually thrive instead of importing endless conflict.”
It is understood that additional concerns have also been raised about Cllr Clatworthy’s current position on the council’s corporate parenting panel which oversees statutory duties for care-experienced children in the borough.
In a published letter addressed to the council’s deputy leader and chair of the committee, ClIr Jane Gebbie, he said any attempt to remove him from the panel would be met with the “strongest possible resistance, including legal action”.
When asked for comment Bridgend County Borough Council said they were unable to confirm whether or not the posts made by the councillor had been reported to themselves or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
A council spokesman said: “All councillors must abide by the code of conduct for elected members. Any alleged breaches of the code can be referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who will determine whether a breach has occurred and, if so, what sanctions should be applied.”
