A local council member, Andy Arnold, has been photographed with what appears to be a swastika tattoo on his arm, sparking controversy. However, his wife, Theresa, who is also a council member, clarifies that the tattoo is actually a misunderstood Buddhist symbol of peace.

The tattoo, visible in photos dating back to 2018 on a Facebook page for a business named Taattoo in South Yorkshire, was covered up by Mr. Arnold with a new tattoo. The images, showing Mr. Arnold working on customers while wearing a vest top, received criticism online when they resurfaced recently.

Mrs. Arnold explained that her husband briefly explored Buddhism as a teenager and had the symbol tattooed during that phase. She emphasized that he has no ties to Nazism or extremist ideologies and covered the tattoo due to misconceptions surrounding its original religious significance.

Reform UK has been approached for a statement regarding the situation.