A council member from the Reform party has been photographed with a tattoo resembling a swastika on his arm, though his spouse asserts it represents a Buddhist symbol of peace. Andy Arnold, a recently elected councilor in Barnsley, was captured with what looks like a small Nazi emblem on his arm in various pictures shared on a public Facebook group over almost ten years. Nevertheless, his wife Theresa, who is also a councilor for Reform, insists that the tattoo is a misunderstood Buddhist symbol of peace.
The tattoo is visible on Mr. Arnold’s forearm in at least three photos posted on the Facebook page of Taattoo, a business located in Wombwell, South Yorkshire, registered to Theresa Arnold. These images, dating back to 2018, show Mr. Arnold, who won the election to represent Wombwell on May 7, wearing a vest top while working on tattooing clients. The tattoo can be seen on his upper arm, with the last picture taken in 2024, sparking criticism online when they surfaced over the weekend.
It is reported that Mr. Arnold has since covered up the tattoo with a new design. Addressing the speculation surrounding the tattoo, Mrs. Arnold explained, “The only context I can provide is that, in his late teens, my husband briefly explored Buddhism and had a symbol tattooed on his arm during that time. He has never been associated with or supported any Nazi or extremist ideologies. The tattoo was eventually covered up because it was often misunderstood and wrongly associated with something far removed from its original religious significance.”
“Regrettably, the meaning was frequently misconstrued without an understanding of its background. There is no larger narrative here beyond a decision made in youth related to a brief interest in Buddhism.” Reform UK has been contacted by SWNS for a response.