Councillor faces multiple complaints for "racist" comments
Oban South and the Isles Councillor Andrew Kain has been accused of racism after multiple rows at a surgery.
The independent councillor, based on Mull, has been the subject of official complaints to Argyll and Bute Council and the Standards Commission Scotland for a string of comments.
The offending incidents happened at a surgery Councillor Kain hosted in Tobermory on March 5 to hear opinions from his constituents on the Mull Campus issue.
In an audio recording, which has been heard by The Oban Times, he told one group of locals from the Ross of Mull: "We can’t help listening to you because you’re so noisy."
The recording, which cannot be published, was made with the councillor’s knowledge.
He went on to tell one father, who is originally from England but has lived on Mull for eight years, that he "didn’t understand the community."
The father, who wishes to remain anonymous, lives on the Ross of Mull, and his children will be adversely affected by the decision of Argyll and Bute Council to keep education on the island in Tobermory.
Councillor Kain’s full quote, as verified in the recording said: "You’re trying to hold the whole community to ransom with threats of legal action. Well, I’ll take some legal action as well.
"I’ve never gone to a country in the world and gone into a community and started demanding they change according to my terms. Never.
"You’re not listening to the community, you don’t understand the community.
"You’ve come here from wherever, it doesn’t matter where, and you’ve started imposing your demands on a community without understanding the community before you start."
The father then asked: "Could you elaborate on that? So what are you suggesting that I don’t have a voice because I’m not from here?"
Councillor Kain responded: "No, you have a voice. But your voice is, although it is, shouldn’t be as loud, louder than the local community who have been there who have a tendency culturally to be very reticent."
By the end of the conversation the councillor says: "Oh God Almighty. In another life, I would deal with this in a different way."
After the father laughs at this remark, Kain calls him "a child" before leaving.
A second parent, Rob Claxton-Ingham, also from the Ross of Mull and originally from England, has reported Councillor Kain to the Standards Commission Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council for similar reasons.
In his complaint, he says that Councillor Kain told him upon their meeting: "I don’t need to talk to you, I know your position already."
He then continued: "‘You don’t understand island ways, you’re walking over quiet gentle people and this is how it has always been."
Rob has been a vocal campaigner for a split site campus.
The idea, popular amongst Mull residents according to Mull Community Council findings, has been deemed unaffordable by council staff.
Councillor Kain also denounced the idea in a column he wrote for The Oban Times before the campus decision.
Rob said: "His approach to me was at best condescending, at worst racist, aggressive, domineering and sneering.
"Never before have I physically shaken as a result of emotion.
"I sat on a bench outside the shop questioning myself at the things that had been said as his anger spat words over me refusing to take any notice of the issues of the child that I care for.
"I couldn’t make sense of it."
The Oban Times sent Councillor Kain two emails asking for a response to the allegations that have been made against him.
When we called, he said: "I’m not talking to you just now thanks."
He declined to comment further.
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