Sunday Mail (UK)

MSPs CALL FOR ACTION OVER REMARKS

- John Ferguson Political Editor Rumbles and Watt

A Tory councillor has been branded a bigot for claiming Syrian refugees are “not yet part of the community”.

Aberdeensh­i re ’ s Sandy Wal lace made the remarks about families f leeing war in the Middle East at a committee meeting.

The councillor, who represents the Stonehaven and Lower Deeside ward, said: “At the point they arrive they are refugees, theoretica­lly the idea is they should return home.

“Let ’s be realistic, it’s not going to happen all that often. That is the point they are theoretica­lly not yet part of our community, they are guests in our community.” At the meeting on November 9 to discuss a resettleme­nt programme, Wallace went on to suggest Aberdeensh­ire should “spread the load, as it were”.

He also appeared to question whether refugees should be called Scottish. He added: “I’ve always had discomfort with the

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