MPs condemn councillor's alleged social media post

Kirklees' four Labour MPs have condemned "profoundly offensive" alleged social media comments made by a councillor.

Harpreet Uppal (Huddersfield), Paul Davies (Colne Valley), Kim Leadbeater (Spen Valley) and Jade Botterill (Ossett and Denby Dale) said they were "deeply shocked" by the alleged comments by Reform UK's Tracy Clayton, in which they claimed an account attributed to Clayton described immigrants in extremely derogatory terms.

Defending Clayton, who represents Colne Valley West, Reform Kirklees Council leader Sarah Wood said: "What's happening in Britain is an invasion; many rational people see this."

Reform UK also defended Clayton, saying she was "completely correct".

In their joint statement, the four MPs said the alleged comments were "profoundly offensive, dehumanising and incompatible with holding elected office".

They said there was a "clear distinction between legitimate debate about immigration policy and language that dehumanises people based on their nationality, ethnicity or immigration status".

They said: "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 supposed to serve them."

The MPs said Kirklees Council's duty was to "serve all residents fairly and with dignity, regardless of their background", and described Clayton's alleged comments as "entirely incompatible with that responsibility".

"While we will not always agree on policy or what is best for our local communities, healthy democracy depends on our willingness to engage respectfully with those who hold different views and lived experiences, particularly at a time when division and polarisation are becoming ever more pronounced," they added.

A screenshot of the alleged initial Facebook post contained references to "invaders", "gang rapes on the beach" and used the words "3rd world animals".

Wood, who represents Liversedge and Gomersal, told Yorkshire Live last week: "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.

"We are importing third-world problems from countries and cultures that just aren't compatible with Britain. For example, grooming gangs."

"A lot of people may sympathise with the intent behind Tracy's post," she added.

Her stance was further reiterated at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, when she was questioned on the matter by several opposition members.

A Reform UK spokesperson told the BBC: "Councillor Clayton is completely correct.

"Those who commit vile acts of gang rape are animals, and to argue otherwise is staggering."

The spokesperson said Britain had become "completely unrecognisable as a result of mass migration and the invasion of over 211,000 illegal immigrants 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".

They added: "Many people in Kirklees will sympathise with Tracy's comments."

Meanwhile, a former Labour leader of Kirklees Council urged councillors to bring a vote of no confidence against Wood.

Shabir Pandor, who led the council from 2018 until his resignation in 2023, said: "When the Leader of Kirklees Council defends dehumanising language and labels human beings as 'invaders', a line has been crossed that no one who cares about our communities can ignore."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Wood for comment.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: "Kirklees Council has an established Code of Conduct and formal process for considering complaints about the conduct of elected members whilst in office.

"Any allegations relating to potential breaches of the code are considered through that process."

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