The X post by Tom Jones, a Conservative councillor in North Yorkshire sparked fury. He has since apologised.
Councillor Tom Jones has since apologised for the post (Image: North Yorkshire Council)
A Tory councillor in England appeared to mock the Aberfan disaster by posting an offensive meme on X. The image, which showed the aftermath of the horrific mining disaster with the words “an avalanche of coal” overlaid, was posted to respond to someone claiming that “the English have never produced a great man of history”.
The word “coal” can be used as a term to describe a social media post believed to be of low-quality.
North Yorkshire councillor Tom Jones has since deleted the image and apologised. The Conservative councillor for Scotton & Lower Wensleydale appears to have shared the image to make a point during an online debate.
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In October 1966, 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives in the village of Aberfan when a massive coal spoil tip collapsed after heavy rain and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and surrounding homes.
People quickly responded to post, which was viewed more than 240,000 times on X, condemning Mr Jones for using the image in such a way. One person wrote: “Are you out of your mind using that image to score political points?”
Others called Mr Jones insensitive for “mocking the disaster and the deaths of Welsh children”.
He later deleted the post and apologised, writing: “Completely unreserved apologies to anyone I offended with the earlier photo I posted – I simply googled coal meme and that one came up.” [sic]
In his bio on the website, Mr Jones describes himself as a “terminally online opinion haver.”
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