WOMEN ARE THICK, SAYS COUNCILLOR

Jan 8 2008 Paisley Daily Express

Fury at Kelly’s website ‘joke’

AN outspoken Paisley councillor has started the New Year where he finished the old one – at the centre of controversy – after branding women “thick” on his website.

Labour man Terry Kelly has been accused of having a Victorian attitude towards women following his latest online outburst.

But, yesterday, the controversial councillor insisted his remark was meant as “a joke” and accused his critics of lacking a sense of humour.

Mr Kelly, who represents the Paisley North West ward on Renfrewshire Council, is under fire after a female visitor to his website asked why it did not contain responses from women to some of his articles.

Patricia Devlin posed the question: “Are you sexist?”

But Mr Kelly replied that the reason why there were so few female responses is “because women are thick”.

Now some visitors to the website have slammed Mr Kelly for his remark.

Mark McDonald claims the comments are out of order from someone in public life.

“For an elected council representative to make such comments, even in jest, is highly inappropriate,” said Mr McDonald. “They are somewhat Victorian.”

As reported previously in the Paisley Daily Express, Mr Kelly has courted controversy with his comments on a wide range of topics, including blistering attacks on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the war in Iraq and the standard of BBC football commentators.

However, the colourful councillor – who is described on his website as being opposed to racism, sectarianism, sexism, nationalism and any form of discrimination – insists his critics should lighten up.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I am not sexist,” said Mr Kelly. “I’ve lived for years with my wife and daughters and I wouldn’t dare be sexist with them as far as women are concerned – not that I would want to be sexist anyway.

“I’ve worked with women councillors and women from all walks of life during my many years as a local politician. I’ve always respected women and always will do.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs when using humour or irony in some of my replies to people who respond to my articles is regarded as sexist when nothing could be further from the truth.

“The only replies which I do not use on my website are those which contain abusive or bad language – not because they come from women.

“I am against all forms of discrimination and that includes discrimination against women.”