A Reform UK councillor has been reported to police after saying she was ‘born and bred here’ during a TV interview about asylum seeker protests.
Police Scotland confirmed it is making inquiries after receiving a complaint about Claire Mackie-Brown, a councillor in Falkirk, after her appearance on STV last week.
The politician described the complaint as ‘malicious’, saying she had simply been speaking as a local resident.
During the interview, Ms Mackie-Brown said: ‘There is a true unrest and it is scary. It’s scary as a local resident, somebody who was born and bred here.’
She then appeared to realise the remark might spark controversy, turning away from the camera and muttering: ‘I shouldn’t have said that. That just came out, it came out.’
Over the weekend, Ms Mackie-Brown said she was informed she had been reported both to Police Scotland and the Ethical Standards Commissioner for Scotland.
The complaint reportedly came with a 22-page dossier outlining alleged breaches and calling for her to be investigated for hate crimes, according to The National newspaper.
In a post on social media, the councillor wrote: ‘Today I received a malicious complaint from an anonymous person sent to multiple organisations including the police demanding I am investigated for hate crimes due to me stating in the recent media interview I am a born and bred Falkirk lassie.
Police Scotland confirmed it is making inquiries after receiving a complaint about Claire Mackie-Brown, a councillor in Falkirk, after her appearance on STV last week
The politician described the complaint as ‘malicious’, saying she had simply been speaking as a local resident
‘Also that I am removed from my role as councillor for breaching the code of conduct for simply doing my job I was elected to do – speaking up for my constituents and the people across Falkirk who have contacted me.’
Ms Mackie-Brown said the complaint was part of ‘a calculated effort’ to damage her reputation.
‘The level of detail provided in this complaint is a clear and calculated effort to destroy my credibility and silence me from highlighting the many issues affecting our town centre.
‘There is no hate crime, racism or inciting behaviour by me at any time nor am I associated [with] or support any far right or extremism in any way. I represent the people of Falkirk, solely and completely.
‘I won’t be stopped or silenced. Every day I do my absolute best for my constituents and communities and will continue to do so.’
She also noted that numerous Labour and SNP politicians have used the phrase ‘born and bred’ when describing their hometowns.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We received a complaint, enquiries were carried out and no criminality has been established.’
Reform UK has been approached for comment.
