A TAMESIDE Councillor has issued a grovelling apology after being caught saying he would ‘deport every other motherf***** in this country that doesn’t deserve to be here.’
Ashton Waterloo’s Raymond Dunning resigned from the borough’s Reform UK group following their emergence. He may yet face a standards investigation for his comments.
The politician was caught on camera in an ITV undercover investigation into the party during campaigning for the recent Makerfield by-election, which was won by now Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
In a pub, he is said to have told what he would like a Reform government to do.
Cllr Dunning is quoted as saying: “So first of all, I’d deport every other motherf***** in this country that doesn’t deserve to be here and their children as well.
“First thing, you’re f****** gone, bang. And then I’ll pick up the pieces after that.”
When pressed by an undercover reporter if hat would even include legal migrants, he added: “Even the legal ones.
“Because there’s nothing wrong with legal immigration as long as it’s done right, but there are certain people who have been granted permission to stay in this country who shouldn’t [have].
“18-30 year old young lads, train them up in the army in insurgency tactics, so they can go street-by-street, house-by-house picking the c**** up.”
After Cllr Dunning’s quotes emerged, word rapidly spread that he had left the Reform UK group. He was conspicuous by his absence from its members of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee on Wednesday, October 14.
And as speculation gathered that he, in fact, left the previous Saturday, Reform UK group leader confirmed his resignation after referring to his ‘former colleagues’ in a statement.
Cllr Dunning said: “I want to speak openly and sincerely to the people of Waterloo Ward, Tameside, my former colleagues and everyone who has been affected by the recent ITV News story.
“First and foremost, I am deeply sorry.
“The comments were made during a private social gathering, where I was unaware that an undercover journalist was secretly recording our conversations.
“However, I fully recognise that being in a private setting does not excuse the language I used.
“Looking back, I genuinely wish I had expressed my views in a more thoughtful, respectful and appropriate way. I cannot change the words I spoke, but I can acknowledge them, learn from them and sincerely apologise for the hurt and offence they may have caused.
“I have always been passionate about my political beliefs and the issues facing our country. Those beliefs remain important to me, but I recognise that strongly held opinions should always be expressed with dignity and respect.
“I am not a perfect person, and I have never claimed to be. I am someone who cares deeply about my community and who entered local politics because I genuinely wanted to make a difference.
“The past few days have given me a great deal to reflect upon. I am disappointed in myself for allowing my choice of words to overshadow the work I have tried so hard to do for the people I represent.
“To those I have offended, to my former colleagues, and particularly to the people who placed their trust in me, I offer my heartfelt and unreserved apology.
“I cannot ask everyone to agree with my political views, but I hope that, in time, people will judge me not simply by words I deeply regret, but also by my actions, my character and my continued commitment to serving my community.
“I am genuinely sorry, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
The Correspondent has approached Tameside Council’s Reform UK group leader, Cllr Allan Hopwood, and Reform UK Tameside’s interim chairman, Robert Barrowcliffe, for comment.