First Minister John Swinney Denounces Reform Councillor’s Unverified Sharia Law Claims in Glasgow

Audrey Dempsey, a Reform UK councillor in Glasgow, claimed that asylum seekers and some legal migrants are trying to impose Sharia law in the city, asserting this is evident from conversations and online videos she referenced. She expressed concerns about migrants not integrating into Scottish culture and suggested they might be attempting to "take over." These claims have been widely criticized and dismissed by political leaders including Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who called the allegations "ludicrous, absurd and divisive." Swinney emphasized that Scotland values community cohesion and that such far-right rhetoric risks undermining social unity. Dempsey, who previously left Scottish Labour after accusations of racist remarks, has not provided concrete evidence to support her assertions. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions around migration and cultural integration in Glasgow but lacks substantiation within Scotland's legal framework, which does not recognize Sharia law.