TORFAEN councillor Mike Harris is a man of strong opinions.

The independent member for Pontypool regularly expresses them online.

Many find his views offensive. Others will agree with his opinions.

On more than one occasion, expressing his thoughts have led to official complaints being made against Councillor Harris.

Most recently, he faced complaints after he posted ‘once a Muzzy’ in an online link to a newspaper report claiming Hamas had executed Israeli informers, and ‘they should buy a Barbie doll if they want to play at being a mum’ in an online link to another report claiming the NHS was to fund a sperm bank for lesbians.

Torfaen’s ethics and standards committee investigated complaints about both comments but, while deciding both were offensive, took no sanctions against Councillor Harris, citing his right to freedom of speech.

The committee is correct. His comments were, in our view, offensive but he has the right to express them within the law.

The committee was also right to decide the word ‘Muzzy’ was meant to refer to Muslims. Councillor Harris claimed he used the term to mean people who were ‘unable to think clearly’.

Our only surprise in this matter is that a man of such strong convictions would seek to find an excuse for them rather than standing by them.