Pembrokeshire County Council and the Public Services Ombudsman have been urged to examine social media posts apparently made by councillor Paul Dowson which are hateful to women; the LGBT+ community; to different religions and to Black people.
UNISON’s Pembrokeshire branch has sent the council’s head of Legal & Democratic Services and the Public Services Ombudsman a dossier of posts which appear to originate from councillor Dowson’s social media.
The trade union says the posts are grossly offensive to his constituents and fall well below that expected of a community leader. It has asked the local authority and the Public Services Ombudsman to carry out a formal investigation.
Jonathan Lewis, UNISON Pembrokeshire branch secretary said,
“Social media posts which appear to be made by councillor Dowson against women; LGBT+ people and different religions are thoroughly disgusting. They are insulting to the local people he is supposed to represent and the thousands of people delivering Pembrokeshire council services.
“Pembrokeshire is a tolerant and welcoming community and diversity is to be celebrated. It is vitally important everyone stands together against racism and all other forms of discrimination and UNISON has written urging the Council and the Public Services Ombudsman to carry out a formal investigation into this matter.”
UNISON Pembrokeshire has previously criticised councillor Dowson for inflammatory statements denigrating the Black Lives Matter movement.
Notes to editors
- UNISON’s letter to Pembrokeshire council is given below
- UNISON deems councillor Dowson’s posts so offensive they should not be shared publicly
- UNISON’s past press release criticising councillor’s comments on Black Lives Matter can be found here
- UNISON commended Pembrokeshire for lighting up its local authority headquarters in purple in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movementClaire IncledonHead of Legal & Democratic Services
Pembrokeshire County Council
County Hall
Haverfordwest
SA61 1TP
Date: 7th July 2020
Dear Claire Incledon,
As the largest trade union representing Local Government workers in Pembrokeshire, we are concerned comments made by Councillor Paul Dowson fall well below that expected of a community leader and cause offence to his constituents.
Further to these concerns, we are enclosing documentation which appears to originate from Councillor Dowson’s past social media posts. What we have acquired is clearly offensive to Black people; to women; to the LGBT+ community and to different religions.
Pembrokeshire is a tolerant and welcoming community and we want to celebrate our diversity. It is vitally important everyone stands together against racism and all other forms of discrimination and we ask the Council to carry out a formal investigation into this matter.
Thank you.
Jonathan Lewis Manuela Hughes
Branch Secretary Branch Chair