The leader of Ceredigion council has sparked controversy after she shared an article on social media on VE Day that “advocated there should be no VE celebrations”.

Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn has been accused of “crass insensitivity” and being at odds with her council, after sharing on Facebook an article entitled ‘Why I won’t be celebrating Britain on VE Day’ – on the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.

In the article, John Ranson takes issue with VE Day for helping the “feckless, clueless, shameless government” hide its failings behind “nostalgic jingoism”.

Cllr Ceredig Davies said: “Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn appears to be at odds with her own council, as on the day of commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War she shared a post on her Facebook page which advocated that there should be no VE celebrations.

“This viewpoint is contradictory to her own local authority, who on the very same day, posted a message asking people to raise a glass or a cuppa to those who gave so much.”

Borth councillor Hugh Hughes also said Cllr ap Gwynn “totally missed the point of VE Day”.

Mark Williams, president of the Borth branch of the South West Wales Region of the Royal British Legion, said: “Members of the Royal British Legion are disappointed that the leader of Ceredigion County Council felt obligated to share the article when she did, on the anniversary of VE Day itself.

“This was a time when many were reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice undertaken on our behalf during World War Two, and many specifically about the loss of loved ones.

“There is much to debate in the world today, and about the past, but our capacity to do so depended and still depends on the victory against tyranny in 1945.

“We are disappointed about the crass insensitivity shown.”

But Cllr ap Gwynn said: “I reposted that article because it chimed with my feelings that any commemoration or celebration of war brings on a hefty dose of jingoism regarding Britishness, which I find difficult to take.

“Especially in view of the fact that that type of jingoism has led to our having to face up to the obligations of the damage to our economy that Brexit will bring on top of the damage we are presently suffering from the present Covid-19 epidemic.

“I have no objection at all to people commemorating or celebrating such occasions as they choose. In fact, I was particularly pleased with the tone set by the video prepared by our Young People’s Council which was posted on the county council Facebook page to mark VE Day.”