Both Reform councillors were recently elected in the May 2026 local elections.

A Reform councillor defending her husband’s tattoo choices has accused Barnsley Labour of antisemitism.

In May, 2026, the newly elected Reform councillor, Andy Arnold, faced pressure to resign after social media posts dating back to 2018 emerged, appearing to show him with a swastika tattoo.

His wife and fellow councillor Theresa Arnold told The Star the tattoo had been “misunderstood” and he had “briefly explored Buddhism” during his late teens.

“He has never been involved with, supported, or held views associated with Nazism or any extremist ideology,” she said when photos of the tattoo emerged.

She said the councillor had the tattoo removed after people had incorrectly associated it with something “different from its original religious context”.

The controversy prompted criticism from Barnsley Labour politicians.

Councillor James Higginbottom said: “Excuses have been given that quite frankly take the people of Barnsley for fools if they think that we’re going to believe that.”

He called for the Reform councillor to resign.

“Reform should throw him out. Why they haven’t already is beyond me. I do not understand it,” he said.

At a full council meeting on July 16, Coun Theresa Arnold said: “He had a Buddhist symbol on his arm. That’s his freedom of choice. On the other arm he still has a Star of David which has half been removed because of antisemitism from the opposition.

“Now that is his freedom to choose to have them because they represent people who he knows and their beliefs,” she said.

“I gave the explanation initially. I said it was a Buddhist symbol, you chose not to accept it. The people on Facebook chose not to accept it.

“Now will you please stop this idiocy because you’ve got more faces than this clock above, and please act like normal adults and stop giving out this hatred.”

A Barnsley Labour Group spokesperson said: “We do not recognise or accept these allegations, which were made without a shred of evidence. If Councillor Arnold has any evidence to support her claims, this should be dealt with through Barnsley Council’s Standards process.

“Councillor Arnold’s remarks at full council continued to maintain the frankly incredulous position that her husband’s tattoo was a Buddhist symbol. It is quite clear that this symbol closely resembles the Swastika, with all of the appalling connotations that are associated with that symbol.”

Barnsley Council confirmed a Code of Conduct complaint in regards to antisemitism has not been received.