Independent candidate says he has been “targeted” as he sets out right-wing platform for Ceredigion Penfro

INDEPENDENT Senedd candidate Paul Dowson defended his controversial public record in a combative interview with The Herald, insisting he had been “targeted” for speaking out and dismissing official findings against him as “corrupt”.

The former Pembrokeshire county councillor, who is standing in Ceredigion Penfro at the Senedd election on Thursday, May 7, said he decided to run because he was unimpressed by the choice facing voters and believed the main parties had failed west Wales.

“From my experience, there’s a lot of parties and a lot of politicians that really say a lot and do nothing,” Dowson told The Herald. “I have proven to be quite the opposite, where I do a lot and say very little.”

He added: “Looking at the candidates for this Senedd election, I was not impressed at all… I thought, well, somebody’s got some common sense in there.”

Dowson said his three main priorities for west Wales were business, the NHS and transport.

“Our businesses have been killed,” he said. “There’s no investment in business whatsoever. NHS… and transportation and roads have really just been underfunded for too long.”

He also claimed that “the health services are absolutely ruined” and said those running public services were not being properly held to account.

Politically, Dowson made clear he sees himself on the right and sought to distance himself from Reform UK. Asked whether he was more right-wing than Reform, he replied: “Yeah, very much so,” adding: “Reform will eventually show their true colours.”

But a large part of the interview centred not on policy, but on the baggage Dowson brings into the campaign.

He was challenged over his disqualification from holding public office for three years following findings by the Adjudication Panel for Wales. The ruling related to false accusations, misleading claims and conduct which brought the council into disrepute.

Dowson rejected that process outright.

“I didn’t take part in that process whatsoever,” he said. “I insisted that it was held in public so I could show how corrupt they were, and they refused.”

Later in the interview he added: “I’m quite done with having to explain it all the time, because why should I waste time explaining it? It was corrupt. There we are. Move on.”

Dowson was also challenged over his later conviction for working as a door supervisor without a valid licence in Tenby.

Asked what that said about his judgment, he argued the punishment was excessive and claimed he had effectively been caught up in delays around renewing his badge.

When challenged on whether his record showed “instability, poor judgment, disregard for standards”, he replied: “What my record shows is targeting if you speak against the mainstream.”

He went further, claiming he had been branded “a racist, a fascist, a bigot” after opposing support for Black Lives Matter protests during lockdown.

He also framed himself as a candidate willing to say what others would not.

“I’m honest,” he said. “I stand up and I’m brave enough to say the things other people would say.”

On policy, Dowson called for more support for small businesses, more scrutiny of Welsh Government spending, and stronger backing for the farming sector.

“Let’s leave farming to farmers,” he said, arguing that too many decisions affecting rural Wales were being made by people with little understanding of the industry.

He also set out some of his most divisive views on schools and culture. Discussing education, Dowson said: “I’m the only candidate that has publicly come out and protested against an Indian chap being allowed to wear a dagger in school.”

He added: “The biggest problem in schools is ideology needs to be wiped out. People need to be retrained to teach facts, to teach science, to teach biology.”

On the environment, Dowson said pollution should be tackled with stricter rules on what is discharged into rivers and the sea, but he also rejected mainstream views on climate change.

Asked directly whether he was a climate change denier, he replied: “Denier.”

The interview leaves little doubt that Dowson is trying to turn controversy into part of his political pitch. Rather than distancing himself from the rows that have dogged his time in public life, he is presenting them as proof that he is the only candidate prepared to challenge the system head-on.

A RETROSPECTIVE call for works associated with the new Loungers beachfront venue in Tenby has been given the go-ahead.

In an application approved by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Loungers UK Limited, through agent Richard Pedlar Architects, sought retrospective permission for new fascia signage, a new wall-mount menu board and a free-standing menu board at the new Loungers based at the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, Battery Road.

Back in January, UK-wide hospitality company Loungers plc announced it was planning to open a new beachfront Lansio Lounge at Tenby’s South Beach, with the promise of 30 jobs created, on March 25.

Lansio Lounge is based at the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant on Water’s Edge, South Beach.

The announcement for the Loungers plans for the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant were revealed shortly after the application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Loungers signage at Salty’s.

Family-run venue Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant announced its closure on social media, confirming that Sunday, January 4 was its final day of trading.

An officer report recommending approval for the signage said the call for the retrospective installation and associated works “has attracted numerous third-party representations, primarily raising concerns in relation to potential light pollution and the colour treatment of the existing windows and doors”.

It went on to say consultation responses from relevant statutory consultees “confirm that the proposed halo illumination is acceptable and would not give rise to unacceptable levels of light pollution, nor would it adversely affect nearby designated sites or sensitive landscapes,” adding: “A planning condition has been attached, requiring the submission and approval of revised details to secure a more neutral colour finish for the external joinery and menu boards, to ensure an appropriate visual appearance in the context of the surrounding area.”

The application was conditionally approved by Park planners.

THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE charity is urging the public to continue their support after a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Even if the conflict were to end in the coming days, the Charity warns it would still face additional costs of around £50,000 due to sustained increases in global fuel prices.

Every day, Wales Air Ambulance crews respond to some of the most serious medical emergencies across the country, reaching people who are critically ill or seriously injured. Missions often involve long-distance flights, with medics travelling to patients before transferring them to specialist hospitals in Wales or England for urgent treatment.

Wales Air Ambulance pilot Captain James Gardiner said: “Every time we take off, we know someone on the ground is relying on us during one of the worst moments of their life. Fuel isn’t just a cost for us – it’s what allows us to take A&E-standard care to patients wherever they are in Wales, and then take them to the most appropriate specialist centre for their needs.

“When fuel prices rise this sharply, it has a real impact. The support we receive from the public genuinely helps keep us flying, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who makes this service possible.”

Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the Charity has seen a significant increase in fuel costs, coinciding with a seasonal rise in air ambulance demand. Spring and summer typically bring longer daylight hours and improved flying conditions, leading to increased operational activity.

The Charity is asking supporters to consider donating – however small – to help offset these exceptional costs and ensure crews can continue to respond when they are needed most.

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, bringing hospital-standard treatments directly to patients and, where necessary, transferring them to the most appropriate hospital for their condition. The service is delivered through a unique partnership between the third sector and the NHS.

It relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required each year to keep helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work alongside the Charity’s crews. This advanced level of care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and perform minor surgical procedures at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, crews travel across the country to deliver emergency, lifesaving care wherever it is needed.

Dr Barnes said: “The war in the Middle East has created an unexpected and, we hope, temporary challenge. Rising fuel costs are a serious issue for air ambulance charities across the UK and reflect global factors beyond our control.

“Global fuel markets do not respond instantly to geopolitical change, and we anticipate that any reduction in costs following the end of the war would be gradual and spread over a prolonged period. This means the financial impact on the Charity would continue well beyond the immediate end of the conflict.

“When someone’s life is at risk, our crews must be ready to fly, no matter the distance or the time of day.

“While we carefully manage these increases, we are also asking supporters, if they are able, to help us mitigate this exceptional rise in fuel costs.

“We know that many people across Wales are facing rising costs in their own lives, and we don’t take lightly the decision to ask for help.”

To find out more or to donate, visit: https://www.walesairambulance.com/fuel-cost-appeal