REFORM UK have been condemned for not taking any action against a councillor who spoke at a recent far-right rally in Glasgow.
Audrey Dempsey, a councillor in Springburn who quit Scottish Labour amid a row over “racist” comments and then defected to Nigel Farage’s party, is reported to have spoken at the Unite the Clans rally on Saturday in Glasgow Green. She appeared on a speakers list ahead of the event alongside members of the neo-Nazi Homeland Party and Patriotic Alternative.
On Saturday, the event led to disorder and multiple violent incidents, including some 15 arrests being made by police, including for possession of an offensive weapon, assault, breach of the peace, obstruction and resisting arrest.
Videos have also circulated on social media showing people of colour being confronted on the streets of Glasgow, including a delivery driver being attacked with a traffic cone by a far-right thug.
Punches and projectiles were also thrown at the initial rally as the anti-immigration group approached anti-racism campaigners, while some performed Nazi salutes.
The National approached Reform UK about the appearance of one of their councillors (below) at the Unite the Clans event but received no response.
The Scottish Greens, meanwhile, have said that “any legitimate party would sack a councillor who spoke at a fascist rally”.
“There is no excuse for speaking at a far-right extremist gathering like Unite the Clans, which brought racism, intimidation and even Nazi salutes to our streets,” one of the party’s Glasgow MSPs, Patrick Harvie, told The National.
“It was shameful. Those taking part knew exactly what they were doing as they hurled abuse, targeted people for the colour of their skin, and made local residents afraid to go outside, and Reform politicians know exactly what they’re doing in stirring this up.”
He added: “Reform tries to pretend that the presence of asylum seekers makes Glasgow unsafe, but in truth it’s their own supporters and even their elected politicians who pose the threat to our city, by promoting and taking part in hate-filled rallies like this.
“Any party that wasn't up to its eyeballs in racism would sack Dempsey, but I doubt that Reform have the slightest shred of shame or concern for the people who were targeted and abused on Saturday.”
Harvie went on: “The reality is that the issue goes far deeper than Audrey Dempsey. She was the one addressing the fascist mob, but she did so with the implicit support of a party leadership that has spent the summer encouraging people to take part in these kinds of gatherings.
“Malcolm Offord and Thomas Kerr have spent months pouring fuel on to the fire and inciting exactly the kind of scenes we saw this weekend with their talk of ‘strangers’ and their constant demonisation of refugees and other minorities."
