A COUNCILLOR has defended his choice of shorts in a picture which has caused a storm among Leader readers.
Cllr Klaus Armstrong-Braun has been branded ‘embarrassing’ after donning the shorts to campaign for councillors to be allowed to wear cooler garments at County Hall.
One colleague said he was bringing the council into disrepute while readers compared him to a character from TV sketch show Little Britain.
But the veteran Saltney councillor has hit back saying his shorts were ‘nice’ and that critics were jealous of his physique.
The row began with a story in the Leader last week in which Cllr Armstrong-Braun said workers at County Hall should have an official summer uniform.
He was pictured outside the building in Mold wearing his own shorts, which many readers have claimed were too revealing.
Sam Hughes, who runs Sam’s Cabs in Mold said: "When I picked up the Leader and saw that picture I couldn’t even bear to look at it.
“It is not right that a councillor should stand outside County Hall looking like that.
“There are shorts and then there are shorts. He looked like something out of Little Britain. It’s just embarrassing.”
Pensioner Glenys Price from Flint agreed and said: “I am outraged and disgusted.
That picture leaves nothing to the imagination. We expect a high standard from the councillors who represent us.”
Flint Coleshill councillor Alex Aldridge said: “This man is fast becoming a joke and bringing the reputation of Flintshire Council into disrepute.”
Leaderlive.co.uk readers have also been discussing the shorts.
‘Wiseview’ wrote: “Is this man fit to represent the people of Saltney as a county and town councillor? He is an embarrassment not only to Saltney but Wales as a nation. Etiquette and dignity are two words he should be taught the meaning of.”
However ‘hen ddraig’ said: “The population of Saltney keep re-electing him, so they obviously see Klaus as good for Saltney.”
Cllr Armstrong-Braun said: “You vote for a person based on what they do, not what they wear.
“Some people obviously haven’t read the article, they have just looked at the front page.
“Those were nice badminton shorts. I think people are jealous. I am proud to look like that at 70 years of age. People should be pleased to see a councillor so fit and well.”