A Reform councillor has been pictured sporting an alleged swastika tattoo on his arm, but his wife insists it is a misunderstood Buddhist peace symbol. Newly elected Barnsley councillor Andy Arnold was seen with what appears to be a small Nazi symbol inked on his forearm in a series of photographs posted to a public Facebook group, spanning nearly a decade.
Allegations and Defence
Mr Arnold's wife, Theresa, who is also a Reform councillor, claims that the tattoo is actually a Buddhist peace symbol from his youth. The inking can be seen on Mr Arnold's forearm in at least three pictures posted to the Facebook page for a business called Taattoo, in Wombwell, South Yorkshire, which is registered to Theresa Arnold.
In the images, which date back to 2018, Mr Arnold, who was elected to represent Wombwell on May 7, can be seen wearing a vest top while tattooing customers. The tattoo is visible on his upper arm, with the last photo taken in 2024. The images sparked a wave of criticism online when they emerged this weekend.
Wife's Statement
Responding to speculation that the tattoo was of a swastika, Mrs Arnold said: 'The only context I can provide is that, in his late teens, my husband briefly explored Buddhism and had a symbol tattooed on his arm during that period. He has never been involved with, supported, or held views associated with Nazism or any extremist ideology. The tattoo was later covered because the symbol was frequently misunderstood and people incorrectly associated it with something entirely different from its original religious context.'
She added: 'Unfortunately, the meaning was often misinterpreted without understanding the background behind it. There is no wider story here beyond a youthful decision connected to a short-lived interest in Buddhism.'
It is understood that Mr Arnold has since covered the tattoo with a new inking. Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
