A REFORM UK councillor has been left red-faced following an interview where she claimed it is scary as someone “who was born and bred here” after being grilled on asylum seekers.
During an interview with STV News on Tuesday, Claire Mackie-Brown, a Reform UK Councillor for Falkirk’s Upper Braes, was left flustered when she was asked about a case of a white male rapist in the town.
STV News journalist Vanessa Taaffe had referenced two recent rape cases, Sadeq Nikzad and Riley Kirk.
Anti-migration protests have been held outside the Cladhan Hotel in recent months after Nikzad was jailed in June, with Mackie-Brown claiming that locals were concerned about their safety.
However, when asked about Kirk, who was jailed for eight years in June this year as well, Cllr Mackie-Brown said: “I’ve never heard of that. I don’t know anything about that.
“I don’t even have a comment. I don’t even know who that person is.”
Taaffe then pressed Mackie-Brown on why locals didn’t want answers about the “local white boy” who had committed serious sexual crimes of which the councillor was “unaware” of.
Visibly flustered, Mackie-Brown replied: “Because it’s not known.
“If I don’t know about it, how am I supposed to have an opinion on it or be able to answer questions?”
Mackie-Brown had previously claimed that the case of Nikzad was a cover-up, with Taaffe pointing out if she could see the inconsistency in her answers.
“I think the defence used by the convicted rapist of not understanding cultural differences is where this has flared up,” Mackie-Brown replied.
“And I think that’s where the anger has come from on that specific rape.”
Mackie-Brown went on to insist that her political focus is on trying to unite the people in Falkirk.
“I’m trying my hardest to bring community cohesion,” she said.
Mackie-Brown added: “There is a true unrest and it is scary.
“It’s scary as a local resident, somebody who was born and bred here.”
Following finishing the sentence, Mackie-Brown instantly turned away from the camera.
She then said to someone out of frame, “I shouldn’t have said that”.
Visibly shaken by what she just said, Mackie-Brown is then seen pacing back and forth, with an awkward smile as she holds her face.
Taaffe then asked if Mackie-Brown could see why people think that Reform are against having immigrants in the country.
At this point, Mackie-Brown stood with her hands on her hips, looking away from Taaffe and began nodding saying “yeah”.
“That just came out, it just came out,” she added.
Mackie-Brown tilted her head back and stared into the sky with her eyes closed.
Taaffe replied “that’s unfortunate for you” and added "ultimately do you see why people who aren’t from here who have maybe made their home here are annoyed when they hear an elective official say that people are born and bred here”.
Mackie-Brown replied, still with a visibly embarrassed face: “I’m saying that as a local resident because I was born in Slamannan.
“It wasn’t as a councillor, but I do understand, yeah.”
Mackie-Brown was elected in May 2022 as a Conservative, but resigned the following year and sat as an independent.
In March this year, she announced she had joined Reform UK.
The Cladhan Hotel has been the site of multiple anti-migrant protests over the last several months.
On each occasion, they have been met with hundreds of counter-demonstrators.
Four people have been arrested following protests outside the hotel, which is believed to be home to asylum seekers.
Anti-migrant protesters have been pictured making Nazi salutes and holding flags reading “kill them all”, while far-right agitators have also been pictured in attendance.
