Dumfries and Galloway councillor admits local authority is taking steps to tackle racism - but wants more to be done

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Dumfries and Galloway Council has been taking steps to tackle racism and anti-immigration discrimination in the region, a councillor conceded this week.

Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward had to backtrack and acknowledge work done by council chiefs – after recently complaining about a lack of action around Black History Month.

She also made comments that her requests for the council flag to be raised to commemorate the Windrush generation of migrants to the UK had been ignored.

However, the Labour councillor is still pushing for more work to be done around the “extremely concerning” increases in racist behaviour in Dumfries and Galloway.

She said: “I would like to clarify that the council did post about Black History Month on Facebook this October and that a number of related communications were planned across the month.

“Similarly and contrary to my understanding, the Windrush flag was raised over Council HQ on Friday, June 21, 2024 and taken down on Monday, June 24 in preparation for Armed Forces Week, which commenced on that date.

“Whilst this does not detract from the statement that Dumfries and Galloway Labour councillors believe the council administration could do more to work with other partners to address the extremely concerning issue of increases in demeaning racist and anti-immigration rhetoric/action across Dumfries and Galloway, it should in no way be viewed as a slight on the work done by council staff to increase awareness of the above events across the region.”

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