Former Pembrokeshire mayor responds to allegations of anti-religious prejudice

A former Pembrokeshire mayor has denied allegations of anti-religious prejudice following a backlash against a blog post from 2008. 

Andrew Lye, the former Mayor of Neyland Town Council, was accused of antisemitism and Islamophobia following the circulation of an extract from his blog, “Uncut”. 

According to reports, Cllr Lye claimed that the purpose of his blog was part of a campaign in opposition to female genital mutilation; it appears, however, that the blog also comments on male circumcision. 

An extract from the blog reads: “I was born with it and cannot understand why any religion should require its removal (I can understand if there is a medical need) because if God didn’t mean us to have one, he’d have created us without one.”

Fellow councillor Brian Rothero is understood to have called the blog “antisemitic and anti-Muslim” before proposing a vote of no confidence against Cllr Lye. Following the successful vote, Cllr Lye stepped down from his mayoral position.

Cllr Lye apologised for the offence caused by his blog, adding: “I am against all forms of abuse, whether it’s against girls or boys. I am not homophobic, racist, Islamophobic or antisemitic. I just believe in equality for all and that is why I am in politics.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.