Former Welsh Tory leader slammed for backing anti-immigration protests against ‘fearless’ Afghans who served with British troops
Emily Price
Calls have been made for the Welsh Conservatives to insist that former leader Andrew RT Davies stops using “inflammatory language” after backing anti-immigration protests in his constituency.
The South Wales Central MS published a series of social media posts this week criticising the use of a hotel in Rhoose to house Afghan refugees as part of a Ministry of Defence (MOD) scheme.
In posts to X, Davies claimed the MOD and Vale of Glamorgan Council had “kept quiet” about the “entirely inappropriate” plans for the Holiday Inn Express near Cardiff Airport.
Vale of Glamorgan Council says the people in the hotel are not illegal immigrants but are EPs (Entitled Persons) – refugees who previously helped British Forces in Afghanistan and are now at risk due to the Taliban.
Protests
The hotel is being used as temporary accommodation before the refugees are moved to permanent housing across the UK.
News of the scheme triggered a number of anti-migration protests near the hotel and outside Barry’s civic centre.
The gatherings – attended by South Wales Police – have been led by far-right figures and groups such as Voice of Wales.
Davies told social media followers there was “nothing wrong” with protesting migrant hotels adding that people who denigrate those who do are “outsiders”.
The former Tory leader’s recent comments drew criticism when past posts resurfaced online which showed the former Tory leader had once called for “fearless” Afghans to be supported.
‘Shocking’
On August 16 2021, he wrote: “This situation in Afghanistan is shocking and appalling.
“We must do everything we can to bring home British nationals and former staff.
“We have a moral obligation to support the fearless Afghan staff and their families, who served with our troops.”
In another post to social media on August 18 2021, Davies wrote: “Some very moving speeches in Parliament today.
“We must do everything we can to support Afghan staff who helped our efforts, veterans who made such a difference over the last 20 years, and families who lost loved ones must continue to be supported.
“We are all indebted to them.”
The Welsh Conservative MS has been accused of “deliberately fanning the flames of racism” and “fuelling unrest” on the streets of the Vale of Glamorgan.
His recent anti-Afghan posts have received support from Joe Marsh – the former leader of the anti-Muslim Welsh Defence League who this year featured in an undercover BBC investigation into far-right activities in Wales.
Marsh has been organising rallies outside the Rhoose hotel with the next event set to take place at the end of August.
The Patriotic Alternative activist has a history of violence including throwing a female protester down a flight of stairs.
In a comment published under one of Davies’ anti-Afghan posts, Marsh wrote: “You need to stand with the people mate.
“So far you are just talking a good fight.”
Labour MS Alun Davies called on the Conservative Senedd group to step in and insist Davies stops attacking the very people who supported British armed forced in Afghanistan.
He said: “Andrew’s 2021 comments summed up how we all felt and represented decent Conservative values – repaying a debt to people who had sacrificed their safety and their families’ futures to support UK and coalition forces.
“Today Andrew is deliberately fanning the flames of racism with dishonest claims and wild exaggerations.
“His language is designed to frighten and to promote the unrest and sometimes violence that we see on our streets.
“I would expect the Welsh Conservatives to insist that he stops using inflammatory language and stops attacking the very people who supported British armed forces in Afghanistan. We owe these people a debt.”
The Welsh Conservatives declined to comment.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Can’t he just leave politics please?
And Wales. He’s a disgusting piece of …..
The lowly depths this political failure will go to get attention knows no bounds. He has no shame. No backbone. No scruples. The Senedd election can’t come soon enough in my opinion. Time this agent provocateur received his P45.
Patriotic Alternative are a neo nazi organisation and its leader is veteran far right activist and holocaust denier Mark Collett. And it would appear that Joe Marsh, the Wales organiser of this vile racist organisation, has been conversing online with a prominent tory member of the Senedd – just let that sink in for a moment. The Welsh tories can’t remain silent about this and must insist that RT Davies stops amplifying activities organised by repellent racists like Marsh.
He was bleating this bile as leader. Millar will have orders from Kemi and they are well in with the heritage foundation, Vance’s visit was not a holiday, it was passing on orders. I expect ARTD to remain unchallenged by the Tory party, just look at what Jenrick is doing, or Philp, Or BadEnoch. Millar is on message.
The bloke is disgusting in his attitude of constant wailing from the rooftop on these subjects. He didn’t have to name the hotel in his tweets considering his position and following. But he did. He knows damed well what he is doing.
Same old ART – opens mouth without first engaging brain.
You must take into account that he has the memory span of a corpse. Advocating all sorts of justified support to Afghans in the past counts for nothing as his empty head is processing the “now”. That “now” is all about being the noisiest eejit on another bandwagon especially as Laura Ann get into Reform before him.
You make a point convincing enough to lead me to conclude that I wasn’t sufficiently allowing for what, in Christian terms, St Thomas Aquinas – and even, in outline, Origen way back in the 3rd century BCE – designated as ‘invincible ignorance’.
A niche Christian perspective, for sure, but make allowances for me given that we’re all of us shaped by our past history and experience!
Presumably this means he was opposed to UK involvement in Afghanistan which is an unexpected position.
This low life could crawl under a snakes belly he runs with the FOX and the HOUNDS
Shape on him suggests he couldn’t run with anything!
No RT terrorist, racist hate mobs on the streets of my country. Toryform in their entirety are now actively encouraging the racist intimidation of people in hotels under the bogus term ‘protest’. If 30 of these bogus protests are going on over the border, there will inevitably be violence, disorder, rioting, criminal damage, arson and God forbid, quite possibly death. These big name political hate figures know full well that a repeat of the Farage riots is on the cards abs they clearly want it so I trust they will be big enough to take full responsibility for the fall… Read more »
If you live within easy reach of Rhoose please join the counter protest outside the Holiday Inn by Cardiff Airport Today at 5:30pm.
There must be a large counter protest to tell these goons and misfits that things like this are not wanted in Cymru.
Thanks for the info. Good to see the decent people of Wales keeping this filth out.
No place for them in our communities.
I’m still convinced he’s going to turn up next year as the Reform Leader in Wales.
Or the whole shadow front bench crosses the floor and the only clue anything changed is their matching turquoise ties.
He’s the Tories lead candidate for Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan in next year’s Senedd election. Sums up the Tories.