Town council cancels mayor-making ceremony as incumbent asked to remain in post
ABERYSTWYTH Town Council has dramatically reversed its decision over who will serve as mayor for the coming year, following controversy surrounding councillor Dylan Lewis-Rowlands.
At an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday evening, councillors agreed that current mayor Cllr Emlyn Jones should remain in post for a second term, replacing an earlier decision that had seen Cllr Lewis-Rowlands selected for the role.
The council confirmed Cllr Jones will formally continue as Mayor of Aberystwyth from Monday (May 18).
In a statement, the authority said: “Following an extraordinary meeting of the Council, Cllr Emlyn Jones has been appointed as Mayor elect for the 2026/27 municipal year and is due to be appointed as Mayor of Aberystwyth, commencing his second term of office from Monday 18 May 2026.
“In light of these circumstances, the council has decided that the Mayor Making Ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday 15 May will no longer go ahead.”
The reversal follows recent media reports concerning historic messages sent by Cllr Lewis-Rowlands to a teenage student, which prompted criticism and renewed scrutiny over his suitability for ceremonial office.
The messages, first reported by local media, were said to contain sexually suggestive content. The matter reportedly led to internal disciplinary action by the Labour Party, which issued a formal warning after reviewing complaints.
Public concern over the appointment had grown in recent weeks, with a protest reportedly planned ahead of the mayor-making ceremony. Those plans are understood to have been withdrawn following the council’s decision to retain the existing mayor.
Cllr Lewis-Rowlands has previously apologised for the messages, describing them as “stupid and embarrassing” and saying he regretted the upset caused.
He has maintained that multiple complaints and investigations into the matter were either dismissed or not upheld, with one formal warning issued by the Labour Party relating to a specific allegation.
The move leaves Cllr Emlyn Jones set to continue in office while questions remain over how the original mayoral appointment was allowed to proceed in the first place.
The controversy has also renewed debate over the standards expected of civic leaders in Aberystwyth, particularly in ceremonial roles such as mayor, where office holders are expected to act as ambassadors for the town and represent the wider community.
