19 hours ago
Welsh Reform councillor leaves voicemail on journalist's phone talking about people from Pakistan
Welsh Reform councillor leaves voicemail on journalist's phone talking about people from Pakistan
Andrew Barry made disparaging comments about members of the Pakistani community
Nigel Farage announced Andrew Barry had joined Reform on June 9
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Pressure is mounting on a Welsh Reform Councillor after he made comments about the Pakistani community in a voicemail he left on an ITV journalist's phone.
Councillor Andrew Barry, of Merthyr Tydfil Council, became a Reform councillor two weeks ago having previously served as an independent.
In his short stint in the party the councillor has already come under fire after revealed offensive Facebook posts where the Reform member called Puerto Rico a "third world s**t hole" in 2013.
The seemingly inadvertent voicemail was left on a journalist's phone on Wednesday, June 18, ITV Wales reported. In the voicemail Cllr Barry can be heard speaking to an unknown individual about housing and the benefits system.
He said: "They're putting the immigrants in the HMOs. They're everywhere.
"The problem we've got, no-one's interested… (Inaudible).
"Years ago, when there weren't that many Pakistanis…. They were just turned a blind eye to innit… (Inaudible).
"The problem we've got now is tens of thousands of them in cities.
"And their culture is different, like you and me, we're… (Inaudible).... got to protect them (Inaudible).
"Those Pakistanis are tribal. They don't just dislike us, they dislike Sikhs…"
A spokesman from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council condemned the comments and announced that an investigation would take place.
They said: "As a local authority we are supportive of an inclusive and diverse culture and do not condone any comments that could be deemed offensive to any group.
"Following election all members receive mandatory training on the Councillor Code of Conduct which sets out the expectations of them and includes guidance on equality and respect. A formal investigation process will now commence."
However Reform are supporting their new councillor, claiming that the conversation "has been taken out of context".
A Reform UK spokesman told ITV: "The private conversation involving Councillor Andrew Barry has been taken out of context with the recording only picking up snippets of the discussion.
"They were discussing the failure of multiculturalism and recent warnings about the India-Pakistan conflict spilling onto British streets.
"Past riots in cities like Leicester and Birmingham show these are serious and legitimate concerns.
"Reform UK supports open and honest discussions about integration, community cohesion, and the impact of current policies.
We reject hate or discrimination in any form but will not shy away from addressing difficult issues affecting communities across the UK."
During Nigel Farage's keynote speech in Port Talbot earlier this month he announced that Cllr Barry and fellow Merthyr Tydfil Councillor David Hughes had joined the party.
Cllr Barry said his decision to join Mr Farage's party was because he saw it as "the only opposition in Wales".
He added: "The people making the decisions on those hundreds of thousands of pounds are unelected members of the council."
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Last week Reform topped their first Senedd election poll suggesting they'll win 29% of the vote next May. The poll, by Find Out Now, placed Plaid Cymru second with 27% of the vote share and Labour third with 18%.
