A COUNCILLOR has refused to apologise over “offensive” remarks he made about commonwealth veterans during a heated debate.

Councillor Dexter Smith (Conservative: Colnbrook with Poyle) has been urged to formally apologise over his comments – which were branded “imperialistic” by other councillors.

A motion was brought forward at a full council meeting on November 24 (Tuesday) calling on the Government to grant the right for commonwealth veterans, who have served for a minimum of four years, to remain in the UK and waive any application fees.

Cllr Smith said military service shouldn’t be a “backdoor way” of getting a “highly valued” British passport by non-nationals, adding: “Next, Labour will be telling us that we should gain Icelandic citizenship for working four years at a certain retailer.”

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David McMullen, campaign manager for Help the Commonwealth Veterans 8 and a veteran himself, said he was “horrified” when he heard about Cllr Smith’s comments and has demanded he apologise.

In an email sent to Cllr Smith, he said: “As a veteran your comparison with being a shop assistant at Iceland is offensive.

“Whilst I have the utmost respect for someone that does work in retail, to try and compare that and a tour of duty fighting for Great Britain in a war zone is complete nonsense.”

Mr McMullen revealed he has written to the council leader, the leader of the opposition, and Slough’s MP Tan Dhesi calling for Cllr Smith to make a full apology as well as his resignation if he fails to apologise.

Simon Hammerschmidt, a retired army captain, said it was “insulting” for Cllr Smith to compare a commonwealth veteran’s British citizenship application to working at Iceland and has also called for Cllr Smith to make a formal apology.

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Speaking to the Observer, Cllr Smith said he has not apologised for his comments believing he has “nothing to apologise about”.

He also accused Mr McMullen of having a “larger agenda” for attacking another Conservative councillor for comments he made.

In an email sent to Mr McMullen, Cllr Smith said the UK “owes a massive debt” to non-nationals in the British armed forces – but believed the motion at the meeting was “flawed”.

When asked if he will resign, Cllr Smith said he did not want to comment any further.