A Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd has condemned a Bridgend county councillor for a series of controversial social media posts, describing them as 'hateful', 'deeply divisive', and 'dangerous'. Sarah Rees, MS for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, criticised Restore Britain councillor Owain Clatworthy for remarks including a statement that 'Islam is not compatible with western civilization'.
Councillor's Posts Spark Outrage
Cllr Clatworthy, who represents 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. His posts came weeks after he proposed a motion at a full council meeting to protect freedom of speech for members.
In addition to the comment on Islam, Cllr Clatworthy opposed UK Government plans to expand 'safe and legal' refugee routes into the area. He also shared a video of Birmingham Lord Mayor Zaker Choudhry's signing-in ceremony in May 2026, where an Islamic prayer was recited, describing it as 'open displays of Islamic dominance in British local government' and 'replacement' rather than integration.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson previously stated that it is standard practice for every lord mayor to invite a local religious leader of their choice to participate in the ceremony if they wish.
Plaid MS Responds
Sarah Rees said: 'These hateful comments from the Restore councillor 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.'
Councillor Defends Remarks
In response to questions from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Clatworthy, who became Bridgend's youngest ever councillor at age 20, denied that his posts were racist or divisive and said he did not believe he breached the councillors' code of conduct. He stated: '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.'
Concerns Over Council Role
Additional concerns have been raised about Cllr Clatworthy's 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, Cllr Jane Gebbie, he warned that any attempt to remove him from the panel would be met with 'the strongest possible resistance, including legal action'.
Council Response
Bridgend County Borough Council declined to confirm whether the posts had been reported to the council or the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. A council spokesperson 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.'
