Former councillor adjudged to have brought office into disrepute with alleged racist Facebook post
Katy Jenkins, local democracy reporter
Pembrokeshire County Council’s standards committee has ruled a former councillor breached its code of conduct by bringing his office or the local authority “into disrepute” with an allegedly racist social media post.
The committee chairman Corinna Kershaw said that there were two main factors disputed in relation to the alleged breach in June 2020 – whether Paul Dowson, the former county councillor for Pembroke Dock was acting in his capacity as a councillor when he made public comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and if he was or should have been aware that some or all of the post “was likely to be considered racist.”
An investigation and report had been carried out by the Public Services Ombudsman, with a representative present at the hearing, however this, along with a council summary report and other evidence was not included in the public agenda.
The committee went into private session at around 11.45am and returned after 4pm to state that it had been determined after consideration of “all the evidence and submissions in this matter” that there had been a breach of the code of conduct.
Considered racist
Mrs Kershaw said that the committee was of the view he had been acting or appeared to be acting in his capacity of councillor and was aware that some or all of the Facebook post was likely to be considered racist.
It was also stated that sections of the code relating to showing respect and consideration for others were also breached.
As he is no longer on the council the “maximum sanction” of censure was imposed but Mrs Kershaw added the committee wished to put on record that if he had been re-elected it would have been “highly likely that suspension for a period would have been a serious consideration.”
Mr Dowson was elected with a majority of four votes to represent the Pembroke Dock Central ward in 2017.
In January 2021 Mr Dowson announced he had joined UKIP and would sit as a UKIP councillor on Pembrokeshire County Council.
He failed in a bid to be re-elected in the Bush Ward in last month’s local elections.
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Correct response. Bigotry in all its forms is a blight on humanity
I’d like to know what he actually said – or is merely criticising BLM deemed racist now?
Not necessarily racist in itself , but if it is perpetuating the Marxist lie to try and undermine the organisation, it’s a clear signpost of racist activity because it is classic “attack the messenger to undermine the message” behaviour.
Nation.Cymru doesn’t give the air of publicity to racist messages, but if you seek out this creep’s Twitter you can probably still find the message and judge for yourself
Of course it is ok to criticise BLM, specially what happens to the money. But this creep did a lot worse than that.
I can’t for the life of me work out why the police have taken so little interest in him. It’s a scandal he got away with his recent offence with only a slap on the wrist and a small fine. What’s this country come to.
Could it be his recently-found buddies who run ukip still have pull where it counts?
facebook.com/Sack-Councillor-Paul-Dowson-104396861527879/posts/ “Sack Councillor Paul Dowson a misogynistic, racist, homophobic bully and a narcissist. He has held a position of power for too long. This page is about removing him.” pembrokeshire-herald.com/67744/pembroke-dock-councillor-paul-dowson-arrested-following-drugs-raid/ http://www.thenational.wales/news/20145330.former-pembrokeshire-councillor-paul-dowson-admits-drug-possession/ Amazing that he got away with his bs and bullying for so long. But that he got such a lenient sentence for his DRUGS scandal shocked me. I know where he belongs, but my post saying where that is, got deleted, so I must only say, hope when he gets there, they throw away the key. Dowson must be a super fit for Ukip, was he their only or last… Read more »
It is reassuring to know that Dowson is now out of representational politics. Hopefully for every!
Forever isn’t long enough.
https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/20199066.ex-councillor-paul-dowson-brought-authority-disrepute/
In the comments, a ‘Ph dowson’ User ID: 3948562 is busy painting the Villain, and now recently convicted Criminal, into a Martyr.
Just like he’s been doing for years, supported by his little band of sock-puppets.
Shame is one of many things the bleeder’s parents appeared to fail to teach him.
I email Ukip to ask if he’s been expelled or whether they support criminals. No reply yet.