The motion criticised the political party over its election campaign with Susan Aitken describing Thomas Kerr a ‘prominent offender’
17:51, 15 May 2026Updated 18:22, 15 May 2026
Reform UK MSP Thomas Kerr was criticised by Susan Aitken(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Outgoing Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has branded Reform UK “racist” and “far-right” as she refused to congratulate the party’s new deputy leader Thomas Kerr.
The SNP politician lodged the motion criticising the mainstream political party, which won 17 seats at the Scottish Parliament elections on May 7 with nearly 400,000 votes.
Ms Aitken, who will step down after nine years in September, presented the motion offering congratulations to new SNP MSPs Alex Kerr and Zen Ghani as well as Scottish Green MSP Holly Bruce, who are currently city councillors alongside Mr Kerr.
She accused Reform election candidates of spouting “racist hate” and “unforgivable actions”, adding: “That is why I withhold my congratulations from councillor Thomas Kerr who was a prominent offender.
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“We don’t reject the people who voted for Reform. They are neighbours, co-workers perhaps even family. For many their vote was a cry of frustration that cannot be ignored. Reform are a symptom of the failures of the British economy and state.
“But they only offer more pain for ordinary folk and communities. We do reject the racist hate spouted by Reform candidates especially in this city. They lied about Glasgow, they scapegoated minority communities. They targeted Glasgow’s children. Their actions are unforgivable.”
Susan Aitken is Scotland’s most high-profile – and joint best-paid – councillor(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Cllr Aitken made the comments on the election as a composite SNP-Greens motion was approved on Thursday. At the same meeting, the SNP and the Greens refused to support a Labour motion calling for the Royal Regiment of Scotland to be granted the Freedom of Glasgow.
The composite motion said: “Council expresses its deep concern however that, for the first time, MSPs from a racist far-right party, Reform UK, now represent Glasgow and that many Glaswegians will feel fearful and less safe as a result.“
It added: “Council condemns Reform’s purported policy of placing migrant detention camps in Glasgow constituencies which elect progressive representatives, believing this was an attempt to mislead and scare Glaswegians.
“Council reiterates its unequivocal opposition to the targeting and scapegoating of minority communities, whether they are refugees, migrants or LGBTQ+; rejects UK Reform’s politics of division and hate; and restates our determination that Glasgow be a city built on inclusion and respect, where we stand against discrimination, welcome diversity and work to create a more equal society for all of our residents.”
Responding to our story on social media, Mr Kerr said: “While I’ve been busy in Holyrood fighting for Glaswegians, the SNP’s creepy obsession with me continues. My presence may have been elsewhere, but I am glad I continue to live rent-free in Susan’s head.”
In an earlier post today, the Glasgow MSP showed he’s already feeling at home at Holyrood. He said: “Reform MSPs have already hit the ground running in Holyrood. The political establishment can’t stand us – and we are loving every single bit of it.”