A tax avoider standing for a council by-election has claimed the vast majority of women who say they are raped are lying. Stephen McNamara tried to whip up a social media storm by suggesting that “98.05 per cent of women who claim to have been raped were lying.”
McNamara is no stranger to venting online abuse, with Reform pulling him as a candidate during the General Election for saying that transgender people have a “severe mental illness” and their “days are numbered”.
He is now standing as an independent in Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse next month but claims that he was asked by Nigel Farage’s party to stand again for them.
McNamara has claimed his comments were “facetious” and intended to “stir the pot” and added: “There’s an unfair bias against the accused.” When challenged that prospective constituents might find his comments offensive, McNamara said: “That’s entirely up to them. I don’t care.”
He also said he would encourage everyone not to pay taxes. McNamara said he was a “proud tax avoider”. He said: “I do encourage as many people as possible to stop funding the government and all their ridiculous laws, and avoid paying tax. There are several ways to fund things. Tax is a glorified version of insurance that should be optional.”
He is the second candidate called out over their social media comments. Last week, the SNP’s Marie Robertson apologised after it emerged she had called King Charles “inbred” and “intellectually challenged”.
Reform refused to comment.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.