Please find below a statement from Joan McAlpine MSP in response to Cllr Colin Wyper’s comments:
“I absolutely condemn Colin Wyper’s comments on refugees, which are deeply ignorant.
“These refugees are vulnerable, traumatised people, desperately trying to escape the sort of violence that descended on Paris last week.
“To suggest that there is a chance that they could be terrorists does nothing more than stir up fear and division – which is exactly what ISIS want.
“There is enormous goodwill towards these refugees, as demonstrated by the relief effort of ‘Massive Outpouring of Love’ which is a real credit to Dumfries and Galloway.
“While so many people are opening their hearts and their homes, Cllr Wyper is spreading poison. He is not representative.
“There are stringent checks in place through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme, and I am sure that the refugee families who are sent here will be welcomed, as they should be, with open arms.”
