Tory ridiculed for wearing poppy says ‘I’ll never apologise’

Cllr Tom Jones (Image: Supplied )A Tory councillor has said he will not apologise for wearing a poppy after vile Twitter critics called him a ‘poppy tw**’. Conservative councillor for North Yorkshire Scotton and Lower Wensleydale wore the symbolic red flower during a TV appearance on Monday. On ITV national news Cllr Jones, 29, was interviewed about the appointment of the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.Later on the same day a Tweet was posted of a screengrab of Cllr Jones on television by a profile Dr Davie Adam on Twitter declaring: ‘Poppy tw** already and it’s still October.’Underneath his post more online comments seemed to support his observation.One user said: ‘Why? Why? Whyyyyyyyyy? Another chimed in: ‘Virtue signalling of the Highest Order.’ An additional tweet read: ‘Maybe it’s a Halloween costume.’ Cllr Tom Jones appearing on ITV news (Image: Twitter/ ITV )Speaking today from his home today Cllr Jones, who has family and friends in the armed forces, said: ‘I’m never going to apologise for wearing a poppy, because for me thinking about the contribution of servicemen and women isn’t just a matter for 11 days in November, it’s year round.’They’ve been on sale for over a week, and I take my advice from when they are on sale not from some guy on Twitter that has two-and-a-half followers.’I’ve managed to get a look at the tweet and I must say, what trenchant criticism, I’m sure that’s strained the high reaches of his Corinthian intellect.’I’m never going to apologise for wearing a poppy especially since I’m lucky enough to represent large parts of Catterick Garrison which is the biggest garrison in Europe.’I represent loads of veterans and lots of current servicemen and women, mostly from the Army but there are some RAF staff there as well. I have friends and family in the armed forces.READ MORE: China accused of opening illegal police stations in the UK  Cllr Tom Jones proudly wearing poppy (Image: Supplied ) Poppies (Image: Getty )’I’m paying for a Christmas Dinner for veterans from across Richmondshire in December, perhaps people on Twitter would like to waste the freedom of speech that our soldiers ensure by criticising that as well given it’s outside of the Remembrance period.’Wearing Remembrance Day poppies has been a sign of support for the armed forces since the First World War and a mark of respect to all those who have lost their lives in conflict.Traditionally the simple red flower is worn from late October until Armistice Day on November 11 which marks the date World War I ended.Remembrance Sunday is held on the closest weekend to that date giving everyone a chance to pay their respects. King Charles III will attend his first marking of the event as monarch this year at the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in Whitehall.DON’T MISS: State pension triple lock under threat  Cllr Tom Jones (Image: Supplied ) Remembrance Poppies (Image: Getty )