Depute provost makes public apology after calling local children 'feral'

North Lanarkshire’s depute provost has made a public apology for describing children as “feral” during a recent meeting.

Tory councillor Bob Burgess, who represents Wishaw, was faced with calls to resign following an education committee session in September, during which he referred to “feral” under-18s carrying knives and said there had been murders.

He said during the meeting: “There are people with no jobs at the moment, we’ve got feral children, we’ve got children attacking teachers.

“And we are talking under 18. You’ve got young men carrying knives, you’ve got murders.

“You need to get things done earlier.”

He added that “the youth of today are a nightmare” saying “we must get something done”.

Soon afterwards, he withdrew the comments, saying the word he meant to use was “wild”.

However, at the opening of the latest meeting of the full council, which had a motion calling for his removal from the post of deputy provost on the agenda, Councillor Burgess addressed the chamber.

He said: “I understand that my contribution at the education committee was unacceptable and later in the meeting having given my contribution great thought I withdrew my remarks.

“I now recognise that withdrawing what I said does not go far enough, and I now wish to apologise unreservedly for the wording I used.

“One of the great privileges of being depute provost is being able to see the excellent work and contributions of young people and I have been impressed by the projects and initiatives I have seen.

“I have dedicated 50 years of my life-coaching and teaching hundreds of young people all over North Lanarkshire in the art of judo.

“Against that backdrop the contribution I made at the committee was wrong. I apologise wholeheartedly to the members here today and, more importantly, to those young people who put their hearts and souls into their sport and the organisations they are involved with.

“I will work hard in the future not only to consider the impact of my words but to support all the excellent work the council does with young people across North Lanarkshire. I will commit to attend various youth projects throughout North Lanarkshire to see first hand the works being done.”

SNP councillor Allan Stubbs (Coatbridge North) acknowledged the sincerity shown by Councillor Burgess and said his group agreed to withdraw their motion calling for his removal.