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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Councillor Audrey Dempsey who made 'white racism' claim joins Reform | Councillor Audrey Dempsey who made 'white racism' claim joins Reform |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Audrey Dempsey represents the Springburn and Robroyston ward in Glasgow | Audrey Dempsey represents the Springburn and Robroyston ward in Glasgow |
| A Glasgow councillor who quit Labour after making an unsubstantiated claim about a rise in "racist attacks on white children and teachers" has joined Reform. | A Glasgow councillor who quit Labour after making an unsubstantiated claim about a rise in "racist attacks on white children and teachers" has joined Reform. |
| Audrey Dempsey was suspended from Labour in April 2024 and later quit to sit as an independent after she was accused of making racist remarks. | Audrey Dempsey was suspended from Labour in April 2024 and later quit to sit as an independent after she was accused of making racist remarks. |
| She is now the second Reform councillor in Glasgow, joining the council's former Scottish Conservative group leader Thomas Kerr, who quit his party in January. | She is now the second Reform councillor in Glasgow, joining the council's former Scottish Conservative group leader Thomas Kerr, who quit his party in January. |
| Dempsey said she hoped to make "real change" with Reform as she believed the party was not afraid of having "difficult conversations". | Dempsey said she hoped to make "real change" with Reform as she believed the party was not afraid of having "difficult conversations". |
| Scottish Labour launched an investigation into Demsey's remarks last year, but a party spokeswoman said it never concluded because she left the party. | Scottish Labour launched an investigation into Demsey's remarks last year, but a party spokeswoman said it never concluded because she left the party. |
| Dempsey did not provide statistical evidence for her claim about a rise in attacks, which was contained in an agenda for a recent meeting of the Labour group. | Dempsey did not provide statistical evidence for her claim about a rise in attacks, which was contained in an agenda for a recent meeting of the Labour group. |
| She previously told BBC Scotland News that she had asked "an honest question". It was not asked at the meeting. | She previously told BBC Scotland News that she had asked "an honest question". It was not asked at the meeting. |
| Glasgow City Council said it was "not aware of any rise in incidents of this kind across the city". | Glasgow City Council said it was "not aware of any rise in incidents of this kind across the city". |
| When she quit, Dempsey accused the party of a "character assassination" and said she felt "deeply hurt and disappointed". | When she quit, Dempsey accused the party of a "character assassination" and said she felt "deeply hurt and disappointed". |
| She has represented Shettleston and Robroyston as an independent councillor since then. | She has represented Shettleston and Robroyston as an independent councillor since then. |
| 'Rights of working class' | 'Rights of working class' |
| Dempsey said there was "no place" for an independent in Glasgow and people had to be in a party to make "real change". | Dempsey said there was "no place" for an independent in Glasgow and people had to be in a party to make "real change". |
| She said: "We need drastic change and we need it sooner rather than later. We can shape Glasgow Reform to suit the needs of Glasgow. | She said: "We need drastic change and we need it sooner rather than later. We can shape Glasgow Reform to suit the needs of Glasgow. |
| "Nothing has been changing at all. I feel other political parties are afraid of difficult conversations. They try to brush it aside. | "Nothing has been changing at all. I feel other political parties are afraid of difficult conversations. They try to brush it aside. |
| "Reform don't shy away from these conversations." | "Reform don't shy away from these conversations." |
| Dempsey said she no longer believed that Labour represented the rights of working class people, claiming she "saw very little evidence of that" as a party member. | Dempsey said she no longer believed that Labour represented the rights of working class people, claiming she "saw very little evidence of that" as a party member. |
| The councillor added: "I have done research on the party and Nigel Farage. Everything he says he will do – he does. | The councillor added: "I have done research on the party and Nigel Farage. Everything he says he will do – he does. |
| "There is no other leader can say that. He has been true to his word." | "There is no other leader can say that. He has been true to his word." |
| Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said "Reform is a rebranded Tory party and it has no answers to the challenges Scotland faces. | |
| "Next year the Scottish Parliament election will be a direct choice between a third decade of SNP failure and a new direction with Scottish Labour." | "Next year the Scottish Parliament election will be a direct choice between a third decade of SNP failure and a new direction with Scottish Labour." |
| Speaking in Glasgow, First Minister John Swinney said Reform is attracting people with views he has "no truck with". | Speaking in Glasgow, First Minister John Swinney said Reform is attracting people with views he has "no truck with". |
| He said Reform was now a party of former Tories and people who supported Brexit which he said had made people poorer. | He said Reform was now a party of former Tories and people who supported Brexit which he said had made people poorer. |
| Glasgow City Council requires political parties to have at least two members for them to sit on committees. | Glasgow City Council requires political parties to have at least two members for them to sit on committees. |
| Dempsey's defection, alongside Kerr's defection in January, means that Reform may now be represented on committees at the council. | Dempsey's defection, alongside Kerr's defection in January, means that Reform may now be represented on committees at the council. |
| When Kerr defected, he left just one Conservative on Glasgow City Council. | When Kerr defected, he left just one Conservative on Glasgow City Council. |
| Kerr, who represents the Shettleston ward, previously said he had been "annoyed and angry" with the Conservatives for several months, accusing the party of failing to champion working-class communities like those in Shettleston. | Kerr, who represents the Shettleston ward, previously said he had been "annoyed and angry" with the Conservatives for several months, accusing the party of failing to champion working-class communities like those in Shettleston. |
| He said the Tories focused too much on criticism of the SNP and "lacked a positive vision of centre-right conservatism". | He said the Tories focused too much on criticism of the SNP and "lacked a positive vision of centre-right conservatism". |
| On Wednesday, Conservative MSP Graham Simpson announced he had defected to Reform at a press conference with leader Nigel Farage. | On Wednesday, Conservative MSP Graham Simpson announced he had defected to Reform at a press conference with leader Nigel Farage. |
| The Central Scotland representative said it was an "enormous wrench" to leave his former party but said he hoped to "create something new, exciting and lasting" with Reform. | The Central Scotland representative said it was an "enormous wrench" to leave his former party but said he hoped to "create something new, exciting and lasting" with Reform. |
| Additional reporting by local democracy reporter Sarah Hilly. | Additional reporting by local democracy reporter Sarah Hilly. |