Kirklees’ four Labour MPs have condemned an alleged Facebook post attributed to Reform councillor Tracy Clayton as “profoundly offensive”, as a confrontation over the remarks brought a council Cabinet meeting to a halt.

The row centres on a post attributed to the Colne Valley West councillor which described immigrants as “third world animals” and said its author did not care about being branded “a far-right racist”.

For Kirklees’ diverse communities, including the Asian communities served by Asian Standard, the controversy raises a fundamental question: can residents trust their council to represent them fairly and treat them with dignity, regardless of their background?

That concern was at the heart of a joint statement issued on 6 October by MPs Harpreet Uppal, Paul Davies, Kim Leadbeater and Jade Botterill. It also fuelled heated questioning at the Cabinet meeting that day, where council leader Cllr Sarah Wood defended what she described as the post’s underlying intent while distancing herself from its language.

The MPs, who represent Huddersfield, Colne Valley, Spen Valley, and Ossett and Denby Dale respectively, said they were “deeply shocked and appalled”.

“These comments are profoundly offensive, dehumanising and incompatible with holding elected office,” their statement said.

“There is a clear distinction between legitimate debate about immigration policy and language that dehumanises people based on their nationality, ethnicity or immigration status.”

They warned that the words attributed to Cllr Clayton risked leaving residents feeling disregarded by the council meant to serve them.

“Our area is a diverse one. The council’s duty is to serve all residents fairly and with dignity, regardless of their background,” they said, urging Kirklees Reform to respond promptly and demonstrate that its administration would respect all residents.

Leader challenged over defence of post

The alleged post, dated 29 September, referred to “invaders” and “Sharia Courts”. Its author contrasted Greece with Britain, invoked Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson, and declared indifference to being called racist.

Cllr Wood had previously told Yorkshire Live: “The language used may go further than I would. But Tracy raises an important point in the implied intent of her post.”

At the Cabinet meeting, Cllr Akhtar Kasia, a Kirklees Independents member for Batley East, pressed her to explain which part of that intent she considered important.

Cllr Wood reiterated that she would not have used the same language, but said: “We do have a state of national emergency at our borders.”

She went on to describe people as “invading our country” and bringing cultures she said were “not aligned with British culture”.

Green group leader Cllr Andrew Cooper questioned how Reform’s stance sat alongside the mayor’s role in welcoming new British citizens at citizenship ceremonies. Reform councillor Lee Cliff currently holds the deputy mayoralty and is expected to become mayor next year.

Cllr Wood responded: “My personal statements were not referring to people who seek citizenship.”

Deputy council leader Cllr Mark Smith defended her, saying she had “in no way condoned Cllr Clayton’s remarks”.

‘You speak for everybody’

The debate sharpened when Cllr Khuram Amjad, a Kirklees Independents member for Batley West, challenged the leader’s insistence that councillors were responsible for their own words.

“As Kirklees Leader, you speak for me, you speak for Cllr Safdar, you speak for Cllr Kasia, you speak for everybody,” he said.

He asked what safeguards ensured that alleged racist remarks were investigated impartially and that councillors faced the same standards regardless of party.

Cllr Wood said she had “full trust” in officers and the monitoring officer’s handling of complaints. She also said: “Judge individuals by what

they say and judge this administration by the decisions we take.”

Further exchanges over whether Reform members were abiding by the council’s code of conduct led her to adjourn the meeting. A shouting match followed during the break, which was not captured on the council’s livestream.

When proceedings resumed, Cllr Wood appealed for courtesy and respectful discussion.

Kirklees’ Greens have called for Cllr Clayton’s resignation, describing her as unfit for office.

A council spokesperson said allegations of potential breaches of its code of conduct are considered through an established formal complaints process.

The four MPs’ demand remains clear: Kirklees Reform must explain how it will ensure that every resident is represented and respected.