Friday May 15th 2026
Glasgow Council Leader Susan Aitken
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
Glasgow city leader Susan Aitken refused to congratulate new Reform MSP Thomas Kerr as she lodged a motion describing his party as racist and far-right.
Early in a speech presenting a motion yesterday she was quick to offer congratulations to SNP MSPs Alex Kerr and Zen Ghani as well as Holly Bruce of the Scottish Greens who are currently acting city councillors alongside Reform’s Kerr.
Accusing Reform election candidates of spouting “racist hate” and “unforgivable actions”, she said: “That is why I withhold my congratulations from councillor Thomas Kerr who was a prominent offender.”
She said: “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.”
Last week’s Holyrood election result saw two two Reform candidates elected to represent the Glasgow city region including Mr Kerr. The Glasgow region is also represented by three Labour and two Scottish Greens MSPs.
Six of the city’s constituencies were won by the SNP while Glasgow southside saw the Greens’ Holly Bruce triumph.
Councillor Aitken made the comments on the election as she presented a motion, which resulted in a composite motion being approved with the Scottish Greens. A Labour amendment was rejected.
The composite motion said: “Council believes that the election result reaffirms Glasgow as an outward-looking, welcoming city, with the share of the vote for right wing and far right parties down from 2021 and that of progressive parties up. 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.”
It said it welcomes the First Minister election pledges to roll out a £2 bus fare cap and treat the Clyde tunnel as a national asset among other measures.
It asks for details on how the Scottish Government will increase the powers and resources available to Glasgow City Council and the chief executive is to write to First Minister John Swinney.
The motion also said “that Glasgow needs considerably improved engagement and support from the UK government on a range of priority issues and hopes that this will be forthcoming now that the election has passed.”
Issues include policies creating “mass homelessness among new refugees” according to the motion.
The council is to write to the Prime Minister asking for engagement on the issues and Glasgow MPs.
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