Councillor apologies for suggesting Tory wearing blue tie could join Reform

A Perth and Kinross councillor has apologised after accusing a Conservative councillor of potentially switching to Reform UK because of the colour of his tie.

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) on Wednesday, February 25, Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett suggested Bob Brawn could be switching to Reform UK.

Cllr Brawn said he had no intention of leaving the Scottish Conservatives and “hell will freeze over” before he would stand alongside Nigel Farage, with Conservative group leader John Duff slamming Cllr Barrett’s remarks as “disgraceful”.

Perth City Centre ward councillor – and former Lib Dem group leader – Peter Barrett made the remarks as councillors discussed PKC’s annual Climate Action Report.

There are currently no Reform UK councillors in Perth and Kinross Council.

Blairgowrie and Glens ward councillor Bob Brawn had suggested the council turn its attention to “fully trying to control the effects of climate change” rather than “virtue signalling”.

The Conservative councillor said: “Mr Milliband, the UK energy secretary, has indicated this country only produces 1% of all the carbon emissions on this planet.

“My thoughts are, given that is the case, there is very little we can do as a country, let alone as a local authority, to stop those carbon emissions.

“We should be looking to mitigate the effects of climate change. We can’t stop it.”

But Lib Dem councillor Peter Barrett suggested the Conservatives had a “paper-thin commitment to tackling climate change” and then took a swipe at Cllr Brawn’s choice of clothing.

Cllr Barrett said: “I saw that Cllr Brawn was sporting a pale blue or Reform blue tie as well as parroting Nigel Farage’s lines, and I wonder whether there’s an imminent announcement from Bob on his political future.”

Provost McDade – who chaired the meeting and whose mum, Helen, is a former Scottish leader of Reform UK – stepped in and told Cllr Barrett he had stepped “over the line” with his comments.

The provost – who represents Highland Perthshire ward as an Independent – asked Cllr Barrett to “depersonalise” his remarks.

Cllr Barrett said: “If I have strayed over the boundary, then I apologise.”

Conservative group leader John Duff welcomed the apology for the “disgraceful” comments.

Cllr Duff said: “I’m grateful to Cllr Barrett for offering an apology to the disgraceful comments that he has made today and I am sure Cllr Brawn will be willing to accept that apology from him.”

Cllr Brawn later told councillors: “If I can just respond to Cllr Barrett, I picked this tie this morning because I thought it went well with this shirt but if he wants to be my fashion consultant in the future, I’m quite happy for him to do so and give me his advice.

“On another point, if I may – just to clarify, since he made the comment – I am a loyal member of the Scottish Conservatives and I intend to remain that way. I am not going to cross the floor for anybody.

“To be blunt, hell will freeze over before I stand beside Nigel Farage.”