Falkirk has emerged as a flashpoint for racial tensions in the UK, with months of protests outside an asylum hotel drawing the attention of far-right agitators like Tommy Robinson. Central to the unrest are Reform Councillor Claire Mackie-Brown and Julie Reilly, a key figure in the Voices For Falkirk Facebook group, which boasts 3,400 followers.
Protests and Far-Right Links
Both women were prominent at a protest gathering on Tuesday night, mingling among masked men. In December last year, Mackie-Brown, a former Conservative turned Reform representative, attended a demonstration featuring members of the far-right Homeland Party. She was photographed smiling alongside flags bearing far-right slogans. Among those present was Josh Fernie, who has called for the deportation of all Jews and Muslims from the UK.
Mackie-Brown, councillor for the Upper Braes ward on Falkirk Council, was pictured holding a flag reading: “Born & Bred in Falkirk Claire Mackie-Brown.” The image was shared on Fernie’s social media on December 6 with the caption: “We are only growing in numbers as more patriots rise.” Fernie later tweeted: “Remigrate all the Muslims and Jews then white people will stop getting caught in the middle of their foreign squabbles.”
In a recent BBC documentary, Fernie, a Homeland Party activist, stated that a black person born in Scotland could not be considered Scottish because they lack ancestral ties to the region. The Homeland Party is a splinter group from the extremist Patriotic Alternative, which has been denied political party status seven times.
Mackie-Brown’s Controversial Record
Mackie-Brown claimed she had no prior knowledge of Fernie or the Homeland Party. However, after Tuesday’s protest, she posted a TikTok video conflating the Belfast incident with the murder of Henry Nowak, who was stabbed by a Sikh killer. She wrote: “What is happening in our country is unprecedented, and people have had enough.”
Elected as a Conservative councillor in May 2022, Mackie-Brown resigned to sit as an Independent before joining Reform. She has faced criticism for supporting convicted killer Luke Mitchell on Twitter and was found to be in arrears on Council Tax while serving as a councillor.
Julie Reilly and Voices For Falkirk
Julie Reilly, 48, became the campaign’s focal point after former leader Connor Graham, 28, stepped back following a public order conviction. She is closely tied to Voices For Falkirk, which promotes anti-immigration causes. Reilly filmed a BBC crew making a documentary in a Falkirk park, accusing them of encouraging asylum seekers to use the space. The video, circulated by Tommy Robinson, garnered over two million views.
At Tuesday’s protest, Reilly was seen arguing with police and standing under a Saltire flag between two men, one wearing a Union Jack mask. In January, she posted on Facebook: “I’m past the point of wanting to deport the illegals. I want to deport the people who want them here too.”
Scottish Freedom Patriots and Escalating Protests
Another group fueling unrest is the Scottish Freedom Patriots, which organizes twice-weekly protests outside the Cladhan Hotel. The group plans to escalate protests to nightly gatherings next week. Their Facebook and TikTok content often depicts black men as a danger to society. They were among the first to post the “Solidarity Gathering Notice” for Tuesday’s demo, which attracted sinister elements. The group’s motto is “Sink the Boats.”
