David Vance SubstackRead More
Did you see the remarkable story involving Reform councillor Claire Mackie-Brown? She had been reported to and now cleared by Police Scotland following a complaint over her televised remark that she was “born and bred” in Britain!
The incident, which unfolded amid protests at a Falkirk migrant hotel, has flagged up massive overreach in Scotland’s Orwellia “hate crime” enforcement.
Remember, there is NO SUCH thing as “Hate Crime”, there is only crime!
During a recent TV interview, Mackie-Brown addressed local unrest linked to asylum seekers housed in the hotel.
“There is a true unrest and it is scary,” she said. “It’s scary as a local resident, somebody who was born and bred here.”
Almost immediately, she backtracked:
“I shouldn’t have said that. That just came out, it came out.”
What in earth is she apologising for? She didn’t say anything wrong!!
However the comment swiftly drew ire from an anonymous complainant, who filed a 22-page dossier with Police Scotland and the Ethical Standards Commissioner for Scotland. Can you imagine what sort of of howling loon does that? Or perhaps some mendacious political opponent out to damage Reform? 22 pages for saying you were “born and bred” in a town that you were born and bred in!!
The report alleged hate crimes and code-of-conduct breaches, demanding her removal from office. Mackie-Brown decried it as a “malicious complaint” and “calculated effort to destroy my credibility and silence me.”
In a social media post, she affirmed:
“There is no hate crime, racism or inciting behaviour by me at any time… I represent the people of Falkirk, solely and completely.”
After swift enquiries, police dismissed the case. A spokesman confirmed: “We received a complaint, enquiries were carried out and no criminality has been established.”
This whole saga highlights a double standard; Mackie-Brown noted that Labour and SNP politicians have freely used the “born and bred” phrase without any repercussions. This probe is a waste of resources.
The bigger picture is that the UK is veering towards authoritarianism, where everyday expressions risk criminal scrutiny.
As a final thought and for my local Police Force, can I just confirm I was born in bred here?
