Bridgend’s council leaders have publicly disowned one of their most controversial councillors after he told Russell Brand to “stay strong” following the comedian’s rape conviction.
Restore Britain councillor Owain Clatworthy blamed the verdict on a “corrupt TWO-TIER British justice system” and a “witch hunt”.
Bridgend Council said it had received “a number of complaints” about his social media posts.
In a joint statement, council leader John Spanswick, independents’ leader Amanda Williams and Democratic Alliance leader Ross Penhale-Thomas said: “As political group leaders, we unequivocally reject the comments that have been made.”
They said: “We stand firmly with victims and survivors of sexual abuse and believe that such matters must always be treated with seriousness, sensitivity and respect. We also reaffirm our respect for the judicial process and the rule of law.”
The leaders added: “Individual elected members are entitled to express their own views, but the comments made are Councillor Clatworthy’s own and do not represent the views or values of Bridgend County Borough Council.”
The council said its officers were responding to the complaints. It added that complainants would be directed to the appropriate process, “as the council does not itself have the authority to investigate these matters”.
‘Stay strong, Russell’
Cllr Clatworthy represents Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr. He posted after Brand, 51, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Brand was cleared of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He was taken into custody after the verdict and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
In his post, the councillor claimed the pressure on Brand only began once he “questioned the elites, rejected the COVID narrative, and publicly found Jesus as his Lord and Savior.”
He said claims had been dug up “from decades ago, when he was living a very different life”, and turned into “a show trial to silence a man who got off the establishment script”.
He wrote: “Two tier justice is real, the powerful get protection, while anyone who challenges the system and turns to God gets targeted.” He signed off: “Stay strong, Russell.”
In a second post, he argued that if Brand “had been a Muslim or an illegal migrant invader”, the same people “screaming for his head” would be calling the charges “Islamophobic”.
He added: “Two-tier justice isn’t a theory, it’s the operating system.”
Reform, independent, then Restore
Cllr Clatworthy was elected for Reform UK in May 2025, winning the seat by just 30 votes to become the county’s youngest ever councillor.
He quit Reform in March 2026, sat briefly as an independent, then joined Restore Britain in April. Restore Britain is the party founded by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe.
At the time, he said the move had followed “much prayer and careful thought”, and that his Christian faith called him to “act with honesty, compassion and boldness”.
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