A Reform councillor’s ‘swastika’ tattoo was just a ‘misunderstood Buddhist peace symbol’, his wife – also a councillor – has claimed.
Andy Arnold and Theresa Arnold were both elected to Barnsley Council in the UK’s historic local elections earlier this month.
But it did not take long for eagle-eyed social media users to spot posts which appeared to show an alleged swastika tattoo on Andy’s arm.
The tattoo appears on his forearm in photos posted on Theresa’s Facebook account dating back to 2018.
The Sheffield Star reports that multiple pictures of the ‘swastika’ ink appear on the page of a tattoo business called ‘Taattoo’ in Wombwell, which is registered under Theresa Arnold.
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Andy can be seen appearing to tattoo customers with the symbol visible above another small tattoo.
However, the ‘swastika’ appears to have been covered up by a larger tattoo, according to more recent photos.
According to the Star, Theresa said about the tattoo: ‘The only context I can provide is that, in his late teens, my husband briefly explored Buddhism and had a symbol tattooed on his arm during that period.
‘He has never been involved with, supported, or held views associated with Nazism or any extremist ideology.
‘The tattoo was later covered because the symbol was frequently misunderstood and people incorrectly associated it with something entirely different from its original religious context.
‘Unfortunately, the meaning was often misinterpreted without understanding the background behind it.
‘There is no wider story here beyond a youthful decision connected to a short-lived interest in Buddhism.’
Long before its use as a symbol of Nazism, the swastika was a religious emblem in Buddhism, Judaism and Jainism.
In the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, swastika means ‘well-being’, and the symbol continues to be used across several faiths.
The speculation follows a string of controversies surrounding newly elected Reform councillors.
One councillor was suspended after it was discovered he said Nigerians should be melted down to ‘fill in the potholes’.
Glenn Gibbins, the new councillor for Hylton Castle Ward in Sunderland, has posted he ‘carnt [sic] believe amount of Nigerians in town’ and they ‘should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes’.
Metro also uncovered a string of inflammatory comments on the suspended X account of Makerfield by-election candidate Robert F Kenyon.
His provocative posts included writing about Asian men ‘assaulting white people en masse’ and ‘an invasion of foreign criminals’.
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