Plaid Cymru councillor criticised for 'anti-English gun' photo

A Plaid Cymru councillor has faced criticism over a social media post in which he appeared to pose with a gun on a beach to make sure there weren't "any English people trying to cross the channel".

Jon Scriven, who represents Penyrheol on Caerphilly council, posted the now deleted photo and caption on 8 August.

Mr Scriven and Plaid Cymru have been asked to comment.

The post attracted criticism but others went online to say it was a joke.

His picture caption read: "Ogmore-by-Sea tonight for a quick swim and make sure there wasn't (sic) any English people trying to cross the channel."

Labour's Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly, Hefin David, described the post as "incredibly concerning".

"We should be seeking to unite people and address real concerns like the cost of living, not post disturbing images that are calculated to divide us," he added.

Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd, tweeted that he was "speechless" and he called on Plaid Cymru to act.

"This sort of xenophobic attitude is beneath us," he wrote.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats called on Plaid to suspend the councillor and added: "Whether or not it was intended as a joke or not, it is entirely inappropriate for an elected official to make such comments, when they should know better."