THE article in last Thursday’s Keighley News – Councillor’s ‘abhorrent’ comments condemned (May 25) – includes a town council claim that I breached the council’s social media policy and members’ code of conduct.

I believe this to be false and incorrect and I would, and will, challenge it if pursued on the matter, where appropriate.

I operate and maintain a ‘Councillor Samuel Fletcher’ Facebook page, but the comments do not appear on that official Facebook page, which I operate in my public role, and use for public announcements in my capacity as a councillor.

They were not published under the ‘Councillor Samuel Fletcher’ identity on Facebook.

The simple fact is the comments were personal remarks made using my personal Facebook account, that I use for personal activity on Facebook, and nothing whatsoever to do with my public role as a councillor, or the council.

Therefore, I believe I have breached neither the council’s social media policy nor the members’ code of conduct because the comments were not, in fact, made under my councillor title, as claimed by the town clerk.

However, I would, and do, apologise to anyone concerned, including council officers, the town mayor and all other elected members of the town council, for particular remarks I have already retracted in the Keighley News article of May 25, as I feel they were crass and crude, on reflection.

I was taking part in a Facebook discussion to do with what many people view as the creeping ‘Islamification’ of our country, and the best form for British Islam to take.

Personally, I view British Islam as part of the rich fabric of British society.

Many of my fellow Keighley town councillors who I know are Muslims. Plenty of other people I know in Keighley are Muslims. From shopkeepers to taxi drivers to local councillors, they are all valued members of Keighley society.

The fact is that the vast majority of British Muslims are moderate, honourable, decent people, who do not abuse their religion, certainly not in the way that the terrorist attackers in Manchester just lately abused the name of Islam and Allah.

All the ones I have met are honourable, decent and trustworthy people. I certainly hope I have not offended one single Muslim that personally knows me, or knows of me.

COUNCILLOR SAMUEL FLETCHER Vernon Court, Keighley