Scottish Borders Council has been plunged into a race row after a deeply offensive comment was published from its official Facebook account. The now-deleted post, which referred to 'African workmen', has prompted an immediate internal investigation and widespread condemnation.
The incident occurred on a public thread where the council was responding to a query about roadworks in the Hawick area. In a shocking departure from professional communications standards, a reply posted from the council's verified account stated: "Must be African workmen...".
The comment remained visible for approximately an hour before being hastily removed, but not before several local residents captured screenshots that quickly circulated on social media.
Council officials moved quickly to contain the damage, issuing a formal apology and launching an urgent investigation into how the racist remark was published. A spokesperson emphasised that the comment "does not reflect the views of Scottish Borders Council" and confirmed they are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness.
Local residents and community leaders have expressed outrage and disappointment. Many have questioned whether this incident points to deeper issues within the council's culture and training procedures. One community activist stated: "This isn't just about one racist comment - it's about what kind of environment allows such a thing to be posted from an official account."
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for local authorities across Scotland, many of which have been implementing new equality and diversity training programmes. Scottish Borders Council now faces difficult questions about its internal safeguards and monitoring procedures for social media communications.
As the investigation continues, community groups are calling for transparency and meaningful action to address what many see as symptomatic of broader institutional issues. The council has promised to share its findings and implement any necessary changes to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.
