Before becoming a county councillor in Ceredigion, Lloyd Edwards was known for his prowess in the kitchen, being able to simmer up award-winning batches of lemon curd and other preserves. Now, however, Cllr Edwards is in something of a jam, coming unstuck for comments he made during a council meeting on 9 December.

The local representative for Penparcau blamed increasing pressure on the Welsh Ambulance Service on immigrants.

“I’ve listened to everyone speaking,” Cllr Edwards said in the virtual meeting, which was recorded. “Nobody knows why these cuts are being made. In my opinion, we are at fault here and the government as well.

“I believe a lot of immigrants have come into this county and then they get the same help as people that have been born and bred in the county.

“That puts more pressure on the ambulance staff and the Welsh Government haven’t kept going with what they’ve done by bringing the immigrants into Wales and Ceredigion.

“I’m talking about people from overseas. They don’t pay for the service and they get the same service the ordinary people get.”

As a result of his misguided and racist comments and the widespread condemnation that rightly followed, Cllr Edwards has resigned from the Welsh Liberal Democrats. It was either that or be pushed.

Resigning from the party is one thing, resigning from the council is another. That would be the decent thing to do now. Perhaps though he is hanging on long enough to claim that 17 per cent pay rise he and his colleagues are considering for next year.

We would like to report that he is resigning, but for a public representative who was very free with his crass comments during the council meeting, he has since been silent. It’s just a pity he didn’t learn the skill of keeping his mouth shut before his spiel.

As his former party colleagues have correctly pointed out, Ceredigion should be an open place for anyone who chooses to make their life there, including asylum seekers and refugees.

Wales and Ceredigion have a proud history of welcoming those seeking sanctuary and thankfully most right-thinking people ensure that is the case.

Shame on you, Cllr Edwards. Your words leave a bitter taste.