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Tory councillor ‘ashamed’ for sharing Tommy Robinson posts on social media

02 Aug 2024 5 minute read
L: Tommy Robinson – Maja Smiejkowska / R: Cllr Phillip Ash

Emily Price

A Tory councillor who banned Mark Drakeford from pubs in north Wales has said he’s “ashamed” and “embarrassed” of himself for sharing content online from far-right figure, Tommy Robinson.

Bay of Colwyn Town Councillor Phillip Ashe used his X account to repost content directly from the anti-Islam activist’s official page – including the banned documentary ‘Silenced’ .

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, fled the UK this week after committing contempt of court for allegedly playing the film at a protest in central London.

The documentary repeats false claims he made about a Syrian refugee that led to him losing a libel case in 2021.

The founder of the English Defence League was due to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday (July 29) for a hearing but was not in attendance.

Mr Ashe told Nation.Cymru he shared the documentary because it was the subject of a big news story – but added that he wasn’t sure why it was banned.

Phillip Ashe shared the banned documentary on his X account

He also shared footage of an interview with Robinson filmed just before thousands of his supporters gathered amid a sea of Union Jack flags in Trafalgar Square.

In the video Robinson says: “The British public have had enough of being forgotten neglected and abused, had enough of being second rate, had enough of the priority being people who are coming from foreign fields – far away fields with different ideologies.”

Commenting on a post about the number of police officers at the London march, Mr Ashe said: “Interesting wonder why you don’t turn out like that for the Pro-Palestine terrorist supporters?”

The Tory Councillor questioned the number of officers at Robinson’s march

‘Racist’

The Tory councillor appeared to defend Robinson in a social media spat with Labour MS Alun Davies on Tuesday (July 30).

Mr Davies had shared a Nation.Cymru article about Andrew RT Davies who this week claimed that a school in the Vale of Glamorgan was only offering halal lunches.

The Welsh Tory leader’s letter to the local council went viral after it was shared by Robinson himself.

Phillip Ashe in a social media spat with Alun Davies MS

Responding to our news story, Alun Davies said: “So we are now in a situation where the leader of the @WelshConserv is playing dog whistle politics with our schools and attracting the support of racists like Tommy Robinson.”

Responding to the Labour MS, Mr Ashe said: “Please show me how
@TRobinsonNewEra is a racist or is it because he has exposed one of your own party members?”

Mr Ashe told Nation.Cymru he was “only trying to defend” the most senior Tory in Wales.

His social media feed also revealed several other posts from Robinson’s official page including content claiming the far-right activist’s arrest under the Terrorism Act set a precedent to “use it against anyone who poses a threat to the establishment”.

Mr Ashe said he was ‘uncomfortable’ with the current story around Robinson

Responding to another image of Robinson surrounded by police, Mr Ashe said he was “uncomfortable” with the story adding that “sadly it will only get worse under Labour”.

Mr Ashe told Nation.Cymru he was “embarrassed and ashamed” about the way his social media activity had “come across” adding, “I totally hold my hands up”.

Posts shared by Phillip Ashe from Robinsons official X account

Banned

As chairman of Llandudno Pub Watch and vice-chairman of West Conwy Pub Watch, Mr Ashe hit the headlines last year when he banned former First Minister Mark Drakeford from pubs in north Wales.

He said it was because of the “damage” Mr Drakeford had caused to hospitality businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Clwyd West MS Darren Millar described Mr Ashe’s by-election win in the Dinarth Ward last December as a “strong result for the Welsh Conservatives in Clwyd North”.

We asked Mr Millar if he agreed it was outrageous for an elected Conservative politician to support a criminal currently on the run from police – but we did not receive a response.

Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said she was “shocked” to hear of the content shared by Mr Ashe online, adding that it was for him to now provide an explanation.

After we approached Mr Ashe for comment, he removed Robinson’s content from his X account and locked it so that only his followers can view his posts.

In a statement, he said: “I am not a supporter of Tommy Robinson in any way. Retweets and comments on my social media accounts should not be taken as endorsements.

“I do apologise for any confusion that my posts may have caused.”


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Colin Jones
Colin Jones
4 months ago

Mr Ashe is a disgrace to the people of Colwyn Bay and now has disgraced the good name of Colwyn Bay town council, if he had any contrition whatsover, he would step down and resign, to condone any commentary from yaxley-lennon (who only serves to fuel hate and his repeated crowd funders),Mr Ashe has failed the constituents of his ward and that of the residents within the Town council’s curtillage, The local conservative party for Colwyn Bay must address this otherwise the public must consider that they too are of the same opinions and intolerance that Mr Ashe has shown… Read more »

Karl
Karl
4 months ago

He is a fool and a liar. He has no shame.its tge far rights tactics of push until people are appalled, then fake being sorry and carry on.

Gareth
Gareth
4 months ago

I think in this case, the actions speak louder than words, and no amount of sory’s can undo what he has done. Being a politician, even a local one, he should know full well who Tommy Robinson is, and what he stands for. I dont believe him when he said he didnt support Robinson, as his actions say otherwise.

Jeff
Jeff
4 months ago

Huh, Tory party officials mixing on social media with Yaxley Lennon, yeah, that doesn’t seem out of place somehow. See the riots? They need useful idiots to boost this rubbish.

I mean who doesn’t know what Mr Yaxley Lennon represents? So, is it ignorance or fully on board? All those “patriots” attacking the police because rubbish like this is doing the rounds on social media and politicians stoking hate with “stop the boats” drivel.

When is ARTD off to join his BFF 30p? Is it when Braverman goes?

John Ellis
John Ellis
4 months ago

He still did it, though, didn’t he? So what does that say about him?

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
4 months ago

Pathetic backtracking from a man who bans Mark Drakeford but supports the threat to human life that is Tommy Stephen Yaxley Lennon Robinson whose movement has caused widespread destruction and injury this week shamelessly hijacking, disrespecting and insulting the memory of murdered children and their grieving families. I doubt such a person possesses the judgement to stand down and disappear from public life so I expect someone to action his departure from post by tomorrow morning August 2nd. My former home town of Colwyn Bay deserves much much better than this.

westisbest
westisbest
4 months ago

Yaxley-Lennon allowed to drink in North Wales? I mean when when he’s not due in court

Rhufawn Jones
Rhufawn Jones
4 months ago

Dyma’r math o wehilion sydd gan Gymru ar ei chynghorau. Gelynion y genedl gymreig, yn byw yn ddigywilydd ar ei thir. Anegn eu hysgwyd fel llau i ffwrdd.

Bethan
Bethan
4 months ago

‘I apologise for any confusion’. That’s legalise for ‘sorry, not sorry’. Meaningless statement.

Llyn
Llyn
4 months ago

If I owned a pub I’d ban Mr Ashe as I wouldn’t want any fellow travellers of far-right racists in my boozer.

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
4 months ago
Reply to  Llyn

I’ve banned MYSELF from his boozer in Llandudno. Now that’s what I call taking back control.

Cablestreet
Cablestreet
4 months ago
Reply to  Fi yn unig

Just the job, hit him in the pocket. As the classic line goes, “.Shove your pub up your a**e”

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
4 months ago
Reply to  Cablestreet

Indeed.

Erisian
Erisian
4 months ago

The trick will be to remember to raise this in the public mind during the next council elections.
Assuming he manages to keep his head down between now and then.

Steve Woods
Steve Woods
4 months ago
Reply to  Erisian

Head down?

Politicians as a species have one shared characteristic: they approach every matter with an open mouth and closed mind.

Garycymru
Garycymru
4 months ago

It’s a shame we’re not independent. These are the types that definitely wouldn’t be allowed into Cymru.

Steve Woods
Steve Woods
4 months ago

The only shame Cllr. Ashe feels is shame at being called out by others for his actions.

Iago
Iago
4 months ago

“I am not a supporter of Tommy Robinson in any way…..except in what I think and post online” I’m sorry but the fact people voted this absolute cretin in makes me think less of Colwyn Bay. Hope they realise the type of person they’ve elected

Jess
Jess
4 months ago

Ashe probably a supporter of the far-right wing radical Charlie Veitch as well…

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