A REFORM MSP and his party have been accused of “racist” politics and singling out communities over crimes.
Reform Holyrood politician Thomas Kerr – who is also a Glasgow City councillor – was the subject of scathing criticism at a recent council meeting, which was greeted by applause.
Kerr hit back in a statement after the meeting, which he didn’t attend, claiming the city chamber councillors prioritised “strangers” over Glaswegians.
It came as councillors condemned a violent demonstration in the city last month, which saw people attacked “because of the colour of their skin”.
City Greens co leader John Molyneux claimed Kerr framed crime in a way that scapegoats communities, while Councillor Kerr, Shettleston, said the city councillors were out of touch with working class communities.
Molyneux said: “There are politicians, Reform politicians, figures on the hard right like Councillor Thomas Kerr whose politics is racist. They repeatedly and deliberately choose to frame crime in a way that singles out and scapegoats entire communities. Then they say nothing when reality refuses to fit their story.
He added: “When you make a choice about whose violence gets attention and whose gets ignored, when you make a choice to stigmatise communities. You contribute to a climate were some people feel justified in the completely unacceptable events we have seen in our streets. Violent crime is abhorrent. We do need an honest conversation about how we deal with it as a society.”
Speaking at the most recent full council meeting, Councillor Molyneux continued: “Councillor Thomas Kerr and others want people to think that those who perpetrate violent crime are predominantly racialised. There is no evidence of that. What there is lots of evidence for is that it is overwhelmingly gendered. 80 per cent of all violent crime is perpetrated solely by men. 91 percent of all homicides. 96 per cent of all sexual crimes.”
Councillor Kerr said after the meeting: “Susan Aitken and the entire Glasgow political establishment are simply reiterating to the public just how arrogantly out-of-touch they remain with our working-class communities.
“They can throw as many petty names at me as they like. But unlike them, my elected mandate goes back just a few weeks ago when Glaswegians sent me to Holyrood.
“It’s up to those failing charlatans in the City Chambers to explain to Glaswegians why they prioritise strangers over them – not me.
“The City Chambers might not like me, but they should be prepared for a large group of common sense champions from Reform elected next May.”
During Thursday’s chambers meeting, council leader Susan Aitken accused Reform of spreading “racist hate”. She asked why the party didn’t condemn recent alleged anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh.
The SNP councillor said: “The murder of Henry Novak and the violent attack on Stephen Ogilvie were shocking crimes.”
She also described alleged offences targeting Muslims in Edinburgh as “shocking”.
Councillor Aitken asked: “Where were the protests against that equally shocking violence? Why were Reform UK politicians not encouraging people onto the streets after that?”
Following the Glasgow disorder on June 8, Mr Kerr encouraged people to “go out and protest” but warned them not to incite racism or take part in violence.
During the Glasgow demonstration, five people were injured – including two police officers – after hundreds of people wearing masks marched through the city centre.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said people were “attacked because of the colour of their skin”.
The violence in the city followed an alleged attack in Belfast, which saw Hadi Alodid, from Sudan, charged with the alleged attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie.
The council passed a cross-party motion to condemn racist violence – leading to council buildings being made available as sanctuary to people feeling threatened in the city.
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