Foulkes threatened by "aggressive man" during alleged hit-and-run standoff

A complaint has been filed which alleges that rectorial candidate, George Foulkes was involved in a minor car accident last week from which he drove away without supplying insurance details, the Journal has discovered.

Lord Foulkes's campaign team, however, have strenuously denied that any damage was caused in the scrape. Moreover, several witnesses to the incident—including two members of the Foulkes campaign team and a third student at the university—claim that, during the incident, the 70-year old Lord was threatened by a man they describe as “extremely aggressive.”

The incident in question took place on George Square on the evening of Tuesday 3 February. The complainant, who wished not to be named, alleges that Lord Foulkes reversed into his parked car while manoeuvring, leaving scratches on the front of his vehicle.

Upon sounding his horn and getting out of the car to demand the driver’s details, the complainant claims to have been approached by two younger gentlemen, one of whom told Foulkes to drive away from the scene.

He said: “I had no idea who it was, or why these two guys were having a go at me, saying I was getting aggressive. I asked them if they wanted to phone the police, but they refused.

“Afterwards, a man smoking a fag outside one of the buildings said to me ‘that was George Foulkes’ I’ve tried to phone his office to see if we could settle it without much fuss, but no-one would speak to me, so I’ve reported it to the police.”

But while Lord Foulkes has accepted that he may have bumped the car “ever, ever so slightly,” he denies causing any damage. Indeed, Ross MacRae, Foulkes’ campaign manager, was outside the car at the time the incident is said to have taken place, and has questioned whether any contact was made.

“George didn’t give him his details as he didn’t feel there was any reason to,” he said.

In addition, MacRea rejected the idea that either he or Dean Carlin—the other campaigner present, and chair of Scottish Labour Student—had initiated the confrontation, arguing instead that the gentlemen in question acted extremely aggressively: “There was no need for him to be that angry. I felt exceptionally threatened,” he said.

Mr MacRea added: “I asked George to get into his car and drive off, as I feared for the safety of a 70-year-old man.”

This version of events is corroborated by a witness. Louise Hammett, a third year student, was starting her own car as she heard a horn beeping: "I thought he was pipping at me, so I looked around and saw a blue car [Lord Foulkes'] reversing. It definitely didn't touch the other car," she recalled.

"But this other guy got out and he was livid. He started going absolutely mental at the older gentleman, who was really taken aback by the guy's reaction.

"He kept asking if they wanted to phone the police, and I kind of wish they had, as he was really, really aggressive. It was almost like he was just looking for a fight."

Police have confirmed that a complaint has been filed regarding a incident which took place on Tuesday 3 February at around 17:20 in the George Square area, though it is unclear as yet what steps are being taken in the proceedings. Lord Foulkes has not yet been contacted by police.

Failing to stop and provide details following an accident is illegal under UK law and may be charged as a hit-and-run offence, an infringement having been committed when a driver “fails to stop or, on being required by a person to give [their] name and address and the name and address of the owner and the identity mark of the vehicle, fails to do so.”

The law is contingent upon damage being caused to a vehicle or person – a condition which Lord Foulkes and others claim not to be the case in this instance.

When approached by The Journal, Lord Foulkes responded somewhat angrily to the allegations, making it clear that he believed no damage had been caused and expressing frustration at what he sees as distraction to the rectorial campaign.

Referring to the complainant’s attempts to contact his office, he said: “This is obviously someone who is trying to con me.

“I’m sure the police would not waste their time on something as trivial as that, he said, before adding: “I must say I’m getting fed up with your lot. Why don’t you concentrate on the real issues. I find you petty and outrageous.”