UKIP has refused to confirm whether the party has expelled a councillor who called Muslims ‘ragheads’ and said many people expect them to ‘start rioting and cut our throats in our neighbourhoods.’


Cllr Philip Winter, who joined Almondsbury Parish Council two months ago, made the remarks on a friend’s Facebook wall last Wednesday.


When contacted by the Gazette, Cllr Winter admitted to making the remarks in reference to Muslims but said it was “in a private message as a personal comment – not as a councillor, so it’s not really anyone’s business.”


In the post, Cllr Winter also said he was “at heart Conservative” and planned to return to the Tory party after the EU referendum.


Last week, a UKIP spokesman told the Gazette: “Mr Winter suggests he has an intention to return from whence he came, the Conservative Party, perhaps we will speed him on his way.”


But Cllr Winter yesterday told the Gazette that UKIP chiefs had told him not to speak to us, which suggests he is still a member of the party.

UKIP refused to comment further when contacted yesterday.


In the Facebook comment, Cllr Winter wrote: “For several years I was the wings officer for the city and country of Bristol RAF Association. And was invited to become a member of the 501 Squadron Association now 2624 based at Brize Norton.


“The feeling most service minded folk have these days is one of betrayal of government regarding raghead problems and are just waiting for the ‘balloon’ to go up when they all start rioting and cutting our throats in our neighbourhoods.”


A reader sent a picture of the post to the Gazette and said he found the comments “both unacceptable and highly offensive,” adding: “Any person holding such an opinion is unfit for any public office.” 

Gazette Series: Local Almondsbury Councillor Mr Philip Winters - Racist Comments.

Explaining the remarks to the Gazette, Cllr Winter, who was automatically entered onto the parish council during an uncontested election two month’s ago, said: “I was telling someone on a personal level about how I used to be a Tory. I don’t really see how this can be found offensive.

"It must be the terminology which is being blown out of proportion and is an expression. 


“What I said is nothing new, I think it’s a general concern from people and I didn’t send this speaking on behalf of the council. It was simply a personal message explaining my background to one person. I did not intend for this to be public. 


“It’s being stirred up by a third party clearly. 


“It has nothing to do with my position on the council, I expect to remain there. It was purely about my background in a private message.” 


Almondsbury Parish Council said it has been made aware of Cllr Winter’s comments and referred the issue to the monitoring officer of South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).


A SGC said: “[It] is being dealt with via the standards committee, which is the usual procedure in these circumstances.”