Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote

Council votes for sanctuary and cohesion

At last night’s full council meeting, councillors supported a Notice of Motion on social cohesion, with only two votes against. The motion reaffirmed Swansea’s commitment as a City of Sanctuary, supporting asylum seekers and refugees, and directly addressed recent controversy around claims made about Seaview School’s religious education classes.

The vote saw Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors united, with senior Tory councillor Lyndon Jones backing the motion alongside his group. Reform councillor Francesca O’Brien, who represents Mumbles, opposed the motion, along with one independent councillor.

Reform voices opposition

Cllr Francesca O’Brien, elected as a Conservative in 2022 before joining Reform UK earlier this year, said she voted against because she wanted to represent “working families in Swansea” concerned about illegal immigration.

“It’s clear that this Council believes if you want to put an end to illegal immigration, you’re a racist. I’m proud to give a voice to people across my ward and across the whole of Swansea who think our laws matter, our borders matter, and our safety matters.”

A Reform UK Wales spokesperson added:

“The Tories have left the playing field on illegal immigration. The only party left that’s talking sense on these issues is Reform UK.”

Conservative backing contrasts with Senedd stance

Swansea’s Conservative councillors supported the motion, despite their Senedd leader Darren Millar previously opposing the Welsh Government’s “Nation of Sanctuary” policy. Locally, the group aligned with Labour and Liberal Democrat colleagues to reaffirm Swansea’s sanctuary status.

Council responds to Seaview School controversy

The motion followed weeks of tension around Seaview Primary School, after claims circulated online about its religious education classes. Swansea Bay News previously reported how the Council issued a formal rebuttal, describing the allegations as “misinformation” and stressing that the school’s teaching complied fully with the national curriculum.

Councillors said last night’s motion was designed to counter the spread of false claims and to reinforce Swansea’s commitment to community cohesion.

Campaigners hail anti‑racism stance

Local group Stand Up to Racism Swansea welcomed the vote, describing it as “a defence of the Nation of Sanctuary supporting asylum seekers and refugees.” In a statement, they said the motion was brought specifically to oppose “racist Islamophobic lies about Seaview School” and praised councillors for condemning hate.

The group reported that two members of the public gallery walked out during the debate, shouting obscenities, after councillors backed the motion.

Calls for action on social media hate

Earlier in the meeting, the Green Party’s Cllr Chris Evans asked the Leader to press the UK Government to hold social media companies accountable for failing to deal with far‑right hate and misinformation. He suggested councils should be able to join class action lawsuits to recover costs of dealing with unrest caused by online content.

Responding, Labour’s Cllr Rob Stewart the Leader of Swansea Council said he would write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, urging legislative measures to make platforms jointly liable with content creators. He warned that algorithms amplifying harmful content were “undermining social cohesion and placing additional strain on local services.”

Swansea’s journey as a City of Sanctuary

Swansea first declared itself a City of Sanctuary in 2010, becoming only the second city in the UK to adopt the title. The decision was rooted in a desire to make the city a place of welcome for people fleeing war and persecution, and it quickly grew into a wider movement.

Over the past 15 years, schools, faith groups, charities, and community organisations have joined together under the sanctuary banner. From English language classes to cultural festivals, the aim has been to weave hospitality and inclusion into everyday life. Supporters say the designation has helped Swansea build a reputation for compassion, while also challenging prejudice and misinformation.

By reaffirming its sanctuary status last night, councillors sought to restate those values in the face of recent controversy, reminding residents that Swansea’s identity as a City of Sanctuary is not just a title but a lived commitment to community and solidarity.

What it means for Swansea

The motion reaffirms Swansea’s identity as a City of Sanctuary, a designation first adopted 15 years ago. Supporters say it strengthens the city’s commitment to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers, while also sending a clear message against misinformation and hate.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Council hits back at misinformation on religion lessons
Swansea Council previously responded to claims about Seaview School’s religious education classes earlier this autumn.

Swansea councillor Francesca O’Brien joins Reform UK
The Mumbles councillor defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK earlier this year.

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Council hits back at misinformation about religion lessons at Swansea primary school

The allegations — repeated in a parents’ meeting and later on GB News — suggested pupils had been asked to pray on Muslim mats, recite verses from the Quran, and that Christianity was being sidelined in lessons.

Council insists lessons are balanced

In a detailed statement, the authority said pupils were not being asked to take part in Islamic prayers or rituals, and that Christianity remains central to the school’s curriculum.

“We have a strong ongoing relationship with our local churches. We have regular visits and our pupils participate in major Christian festivals with them including Christmas, Easter and the annual Harvest Festival.

This was the first time someone of the Islamic faith from our local mosque was invited to the school.

It is untrue to claim pupils were told they would all be Muslim by the time they get to Year Six or that they were taught Islamic prayers.

We pride ourselves on being a school where everyone is treated with dignity, tolerance and respect. Like all schools in Wales we are required to include religious studies as part of our curriculum. Lessons and assemblies mainly reflect the broad traditions of Christian belief but we also try to give our pupils a basic understanding of the world’s other major religions.”

How the claims spread

Concerns were first raised in a parents’ meeting at Mayhill Community Centre on 7 October, attended by Reform UK councillor Francesca O’Brien. The event was promoted on Facebook and supported by members of the controversial far‑right group Voice of Wales.

Following the meeting, GB News broadcast an interview with Cllr O’Brien in which she repeated parents’ claims that children had been asked to pray on Muslim mats and recite Quranic verses, and that Christianity was not being given equal weight.

On 9 October, Nation.Cymru reported on the controversy, describing O’Brien as having “teamed up” with Voice of Wales — a characterisation she disputes.

Councillor Francesca O’Brien, who represents Mumbles on Swansea Council and recently joined Reform UK.

Council leader condemns “false and dangerous” claims

Council leader Rob Stewart welcomed the release of Swansea Council’s statement, warning that false claims put staff and communities at risk.

“Deliberately spreading false information is both dangerous and deplorable. It puts our teachers and members of our communities at risk. It’s not acceptable. False malicious information needs to be called out. Those deliberately spreading false information need to be called out.”

In a separate post, he added:

“Serious questions for ex‑Tory now Reform councillor Francesca O’Brien to answer. Is she now working with the far‑right? Her failure to correct misinformation is deplorable.”

O’Brien: “I was giving parents a voice”

Cllr O’Brien has rejected suggestions that she is aligned with any group, insisting she was approached directly by parents and agreed to listen to their concerns.

“I don’t believe welcoming a meeting with parents who’ve raised genuine concerns is inciting hate,” she said. “I made it very clear I wasn’t there as the local councillor. Parents felt they needed to be heard, and that’s what I did.”

She also disputed the Nation.Cymru description of her having “teamed up” with Voice of Wales, saying she works independently and was not acting in partnership with any organisation.

What happens next

The council has urged any parents with questions about the curriculum to raise them directly with their child’s school, rather than relying on social media claims. Officials say they will continue to provide clear information about how Religion, Values and Ethics is taught under the Curriculum for Wales.

The row highlights how quickly local concerns can escalate once amplified online and in national media. For now, Swansea Council insists its focus remains on ensuring pupils receive a balanced education that reflects both Wales’ Christian traditions and an understanding of other world faiths.

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