CLA · On the Record
Former Conservative councillor, Haverfordwest Prendergast, Pembrokeshire County Council
“There’s nothing wrong with their skin colour, I think all white men should have a black woman or a black man as a slave” … “There’s nothing wrong with them, it’s just they’re a lower class than us white people.”
Context
An Adjudication Panel for Wales case tribunal found that Andrew Edwards made and sent the WhatsApp voice note in July 2022, while he was an elected Pembrokeshire county councillor. The note formed part of a private exchange with his then partner about her former partner. She told investigators that she did not believe Edwards intended to be malicious and regarded him as using dark humour, but said the recording disturbed her and made her uncomfortable.
The tribunal concluded that Edwards had intended the message as a joke or light-hearted comment rather than a serious proposal. It nevertheless described the contents as completely unacceptable and found that they demonstrated racial discrimination and disregard for other people’s rights to freedom and equality.
Response and adjudication
When first played the recording in April 2023, Edwards said he could not remember making it and that, if he had, it would have been “in jest”. He later denied making it and said it was a malicious deepfake. The tribunal rejected that account on the balance of probabilities after considering the message sequence, witness evidence and a forensic report which found it more probable that the audio had not been artificially generated or manipulated.
Edwards referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and initially cooperated, but later declined further participation, citing ill health. The tribunal recorded limited recognition and regret concerning separate screenshots and comments shared with his partner, not the voice note. He resigned from the council in the week beginning 30 December 2024.
Evidence
Primary source: Adjudication Panel for Wales, decision report APW/004/2024-25/CT (tribunal considered the case on 18 June 2025; decision signed 9 July 2025).
Corroborating report: BBC News, 22 June 2025.
Date of original statement: July 2022, as found by the tribunal.
Evidence status: Official case-tribunal finding, reached unanimously on the balance of probabilities after examining witness evidence and digital-forensic analysis.
Legal status: Administrative and disciplinary finding that Edwards breached paragraph 6(1)(a) of the councillors’ Code of Conduct by bringing his office and authority into disrepute. The tribunal disqualified him for four years from being or becoming a member of any relevant authority. This was not a criminal charge or conviction. The decision recorded his right to seek the High Court’s permission to appeal. Last reviewed: 12 October 2026.
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Responses and outcomes
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