Newcastle Liberal Democrats call for Reform UK councillor to apologise for use of vile trope

At Newcastle City Council on Wednesday 2nd September, Reform UK councillors proposed for discussion an amendment to a motion on anti-racism, trying to remove the phrase “reject far right narratives of division, including the so-called Great Replacement conspiracy theory…”

A few minutes later, Reform UK’s Cllr Astley stated the motion’s “attempts to dismiss demographic replacement as some kind of conspiracy theory, despite the national census data or a quick walk down the West Road suggesting otherwise.”

Cllr Mark Mitchell, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of the Council said, “to endorse a debunked far-right white nationalist conspiracy in the council chamber would be grossly irresponsible, and cannot go unchallenged. Newcastle Reform need to make clear immediately whether they believe in the Great Replacement Theory or not, and whether Cllr Astley’s remarks were an endorsement of this vile trope.

“I call upon Cllr Astley to withdraw this remark and apologise to the residents of Newcastle, and in particular the West Road, for creating even the possibility that he might hold this abhorrent view. We cannot believe that could be true for a representative of the people of a city as tolerant and welcoming as Newcastle.  

“If he will not withdraw his remark and apologise, I trust that the Reform UK Leader of the Opposition will join us in utterly condemning Cllr Astley’s remarks and will take appropriate disciplinary action against him.”