Reform defends councillor over social media post calling immigrants ‘third world animals’

Reform defends councillor over social media post calling immigrants ‘third world animals’ Reform insisted people would ‘sympathise’ with the comments, but councillors say it has sparked fear in the community - Bookmark Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Reform UK has defended a Kirklees councillor who appears to have described immigrants as “third world animals” and said she didn’t care if she was branded a “far right racist”. Several Labour MPs are urging the party to act following Tracy Clayton’s alleged post on Facebook last week, in which she also appears to have hit out at “invaders” and Sharia councils. Sarah Wood, Reform’s council leader, said Ms Clayton “raises an important point”, while the party called her “correct” and said many people would “sympathise” with the comments. Reform also disputed that she said immigrants were "third world animals" and insisted her comments were specifically about those that raid shops and commit acts of gang rape. Ms Clayton, who was elected in May to represent the Colne Valley West ward, wrote: “I’m away in Greece, I go to Greece a lot, why because no invaders, not since the Greek government stood up and said no. (it is an invasion just like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson said over 15 years ago) no one raiding shops, no gang rapes on the beach, no Sheria Courts, no man marrying a child! “Just normal (not 3rd world animals) HOW I MISS THAT ABOUT MY HOME LAND. If that makes me a far right racist, well you know what I don’t care!” A spokesperson for Mr Farage’s party said: “Cllr Clayton is completely correct. Britain has become completely unrecognisable as a result of mass immigration and the invasion of over 211,000 illegal migrants since 2018, many of whom bring with them cultures that are completely incompatible with our own and go on to commit the most heinous crimes. “Many people in Kirklees will sympathise with Tracy’s comments.” Ms Wood faced backlash during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday for refusing to condemn the councillor. It comes after she released a statement which said: “The language used may go further than I would. But Tracy raises an important point in the implied intent of her post. What's happening in Britain is an invasion; many rational people see this.” Independent Akhtar Kasia was among several opposition councillors who challenged the council leader at the “heated” meeting. “We were expecting Councillor Wood to step back from the original press release that she had put out, but when she actually defended Councillor Clayton's post again, it made us very angry,” he told The Independent. Mr Kasia, who is an immigrant, said: “My children are here; they have contributed to the country community by going to university....for us to see that particular post and to be called as third-world animals and to be compared to the few who are wrong apples in the community is unjustifiable.” He said the comments from both the councillor and council leader had sparked concern in the community and several “fearful” immigrants had reached out to him. “People are worried that when you have a council leader with this particular view, it is going to impact them and the community as well. It is a worrying time for us. “We can't have rhetoric like this from the elected members who represent the whole community.” Labour MPs Kim Leadbeater, Jade Botterill, Paul Davies, and Harpreet Uppal, who represent communities across Kirklees, have called for Reform to address the situation and demonstrate that the council will “represent and respect all residents”. In a joint statement, they said they were “deeply shocked and appalled” by the post. “These comments are profoundly offensive, dehumanising, and unacceptable with holding elected office. “There is a clear distinction between legitimate debate about immigration policy and language that dehumanises people based on their nationality, ethnicity or immigration status. “The words attributed to councillor Clayton cross that line and risk making many residents across the Kirklees district feel disregarded by the council that is meant to serve them.” Tracy Clayton and Sarah Wood have been approached for comment.