A Reform UK councillor in Newcastle has been criticised for appearing to endorse a “vile” conspiracy theory. Benwell, Scotswood and Denton Burn representative Daniel Astley has been urged to apologise after remarks he made concerning immigration on the city’s West Road.
It came during a debate at Wednesday night’s Newcastle City Council meeting, at which councillors debated a motion asking the city to unite against racism. The motion from Green councillor Halimah Begum called for the rejection of “far-right narratives of division, including the so-called Great Replacement conspiracy theory”.
Demographic claims challenged
That theory claims that there is a deliberate plot to replace white populations with non-white immigrants. Coun Astley said during Wednesday's meeting that Coun Begum’s motion “attempts to dismiss demographic replacement as some kind of conspiracy theory, despite the national census data or quick walk down the West Road suggesting otherwise”.
Coun Begum told the Local Democracy Reporting Service afterwards that the Reform councillor should “take a longer walk and actually talk to the brilliant shopkeepers, nurses, and families who make our community tick, instead of treating everyday Geordie diversity like an X-files episode”. She added: “Such unfounded claims take a moment to say in the council chamber, but have real and lasting consequences for people across Newcastle. My father didn't fight in World War II for this country just for local politicians to stand up and brand multiculturalism as 'replacement.'”
Calls for apology and action
Liberal Democrat Mark Mitchell, the council’s deputy leader, called on the city’s Reform opposition group to “make clear immediately whether they believe in the Great Replacement Theory or not, and whether Coun Astley’s remarks were an endorsement of this vile trope”. He said: “I call upon Coun 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 Coun Astley’s remarks and will take appropriate disciplinary action against him.”
Reform UK response and council vote
A spokesperson from Reform UK Newcastle said that it “stands firmly against racism and discrimination in all forms” and said that councillors “must be free to raise difficult and contentious issues without being negatively labelled or silenced”. They added: “Coun Dan Astley was speaking during the debate on Newcastle City Council’s ‘United City Against Racism’ motion. Reform UK voted against both the original and amended motions because we wanted to support our own motion calling for a United City.
“Coun Astley raised the issue of demographic change during the debate. Whether people agree with his choice of words or not, elected councillors must be free to raise difficult and contentious issues without being negatively labelled or silenced. There is nothing racist about discussing the facts of demographic change, migration, housing or the pressures on public services. These are issues that arose from the motion and residents have a legitimate right to debate. We will continue to oppose racism while standing up for free speech, open debate and a Newcastle that treats every resident fairly.”
The council approved a motion, proposed by the Greens and amended by the Lib Dems, reaffirming Newcastle’s City of Sanctuary status and to “stand alongside communities targeted by hatred”. Reform had proposed an amendment removing reference to the City of Sanctuary and stating that the council should “ensure that legitimate political disagreement is not unnecessarily characterised as racism, extremism or misinformation without an appropriate evidential basis”. That amendment, which was voted down, contained a commitment to oppose racism and religious hatred and “to continue supporting equality, tolerance, inclusion and positive community relations”.
