Former Worthing mayor apologises for sharing Facebook post

Former Conservative councillor Tom Wye is a well known figure in the town having taken a stand on the NCP parking contract as well as his work supporting veterans and the town’s remembrance celebrations.

Earlier this month he shared a Facebook post from another user described as a ‘thought provoking passage written by an Englishman about the current situation in HIS homeland – this is thought provoking and is equally relevant in any other (once) white country’.

It asks why ‘is it that only whites can be racists’ and goes on to say that ‘we have lost most of our rights in this country’ because ‘we won’t stand up for ourselves’ and ‘being proud to be white is ‘not a crime’, but ‘it’s getting close’.

The post continues: “You can fly your flag and it’s called diversity. You celebrate your cultures and it’s called multiculturalism.

“You rob us, carjack us, and rape our daughters. But, when a white police officer arrests a black gang member or beats up an Asian drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist. I am proud.... but you call me a racist.”

The post comes amidst a number of Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month.

After being contacted by the Herald, Mr Wye deleted the post.

He said: “I do regret some of the words that I copied and have now removed it. I apologise to anyone who was offended. That said, I am not a racist and I do not live in an institutionalised racist country.

“Others may disagree, that is their right, we live in a free tolerant country and are permitted to have different opinions. I have no problem with the Black Lives Matter movement but I would include myself in an All Lives Matter grouping.”

He described being ‘disgusted’ by reports of George Floyd’s death and would be equally disgusted had it been a member of any other race or creed.

The Facebook post did include words he ‘would not have used had I written it myself but the main gist of it was that not all whites are racist’ and that the UK is ‘not an institutionalised racist country’.

He added: “I have served in many countries during my lifetime and I honestly believe that the UK is one of the most tolerant, inclusive and friendly countries in the world. The UK has a proud record of giving refuge and sanctuary to the oppressed of all colours and creeds, it has done so throughout my lifetime and I am proud of that fact.”

He described being ‘very angry’ when he copied the post having spent the weekend ‘being told that all whites were racists and that the UK was a racist country’.

Having served for 37 years in the British Army, reports of vandalism to the Cenotaph and the attempted burning of the country’s flag made him ‘extremely angry’ as he saw attacking a memorial to our fallen as ‘an attack on us’.

He described serving with many servicemen from ethnic minority groups as well as with two Conservative councillors also from ethnic minority groups.

Earlier this week Mr Wye was sent an open letter from members of anti-racist Worthing, with the support of Black Lives Matter Worthing and Stand Up To Racism Worthing.

It called on Mr Wye to apologise for the post, reflect on why it’s unacceptable, and delete it, adding: “It is completely unacceptable for a public figure to partake in such racism.”

The letter says: “We expect the best standards of behaviour from our elected representatives in public life. This includes what they say, and what they write, online. We expect them to continue to uphold these high standards even after they leave office, and to be shining examples of the communities they represent. We don’t expect them to be copying and sharing racist posts on social media.

“Sadly, given his good work supporting veterans and the Town’s remembrance celebrations over many years, former mayor Tom Wye decided to do just that. Not only did he refer to ethnic minorities variously as robbers, car jackers, and rapists, but also describes Britain as ‘our country’ and talks about losing ‘most of our rights’.

“This not only undermines Tom’s legacy as mayor, and the work previously mentioned, it also has the potential to bring the reputation of the town into disrepute.

“The inference that Britain belongs to white people is extremely concerning, as is the suggestion that somehow white people are losing their rights because of the colour of their skin. Neither are, or ever have been, true.”

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