Reform councillor spoke at rally alongside neo-Nazis, then her party attacked those who called them Nazis - Reform Watch

Reform UK is facing serious questions after one of its Glasgow councillors addressed a far-right rally attended by neo-Nazi activists shortly before disorder spread through the city. Audrey Dempsey, Reform’s councillor for Springburn and Robroyston, spoke at the Unite the Clans demonstration on Glasgow Green on Saturday 25 July. She urged those gathered to support politicians who would stop what she claimed the city was becoming. The rally was attended by activists linked to Patriotic Alternative, a white nationalist organisation widely described as neo-Nazi. Photographs and footage from the event showed Nazi salutes, while attendees were reported openly identifying themselves as Nazis. A group later moved through Glasgow city centre, where police recorded racist intimidation and violence. Fifteen people were arrested, weapons were recovered and Police Scotland said further arrests were expected. Reform has given no public indication that Dempsey will face disciplinary action over her attendance or speech. Reform MSP Thomas Kerr instead attacked Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer for describing members of the crowd as Nazis. Kerr accused Greer of cheapening the Holocaust and dismissed the term as a political slur. His defence is impossible to reconcile with the evidence. Neo-Nazi activists were present, Nazi salutes were photographed and attendees openly embraced the label. Reform now faces an unavoidable question. Why has an elected councillor apparently escaped disciplinary action after addressing a rally alongside neo-Nazi activists? The party has concentrated its response on attacking those exposing the extremism, while remaining silent about its own representative’s involvement. That is an appalling failure of political judgement, and Reform must not be allowed to get away with it.