27-05-2025
Orange Order is 'not divisive' claims Tory candidate in Hamilton by-election race
Larkhall councillor Richard Nelson was formerly a member of the Carluke No Surrender Apprentice Boys of Derry.
A Tory candidate in the Hamilton by-election race has claimed the Orange Order is "not divisive at all".
Richard Nelson today defended his membership of the organisation and confirmed he was also a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
The Larkhall councillor insisted both were "law-abiding organisations" and said he already represented people of all faiths with his work on South Lanarkshire Council.
The Record previously revealed how Nelson also performs as a foul-mouthed stage hypnotist who shouts abuse at his punters.
He is running to become an MSP at next week's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election where the Tories are expected to finish a distant fourth behind the SNP, Reform and Labour.
During an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives candidate was asked about his membership of the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys.
Nelson said: "We are law-abiding organisations. We pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King. And, you know, we are not divisive at all, and people have their right to their own religion."
Asked whether he could represent everyone in the community, the councillor added: "I always do. I always have. Last week, I met with the parish priest in Larkhall — not just the parish priest, but also another priest.
"We sat for an hour and spoke about the local community and the things that have been happening in the community. Everybody that comes to my surgery or contacts me — I do not ask what religion they are."
He added: "People always try and target organisations with a bad brush, but we are not. The things that we do for the local charities, the local communities… that is the part that is missing with all of this."
Nelson was formerly a member of the Carluke No Surrender Apprentice Boys of Derry.
The Orange Order states it is committed to 'the protection of the principles of the Protestant Reformation'.
The Record previously told how Nelson humiliated one man during his stage act by mocking him as an "a***hole' and made others believe they had soiled themselves.
The councillor has a side job as a so-called comedy hypnotist who turns the air blue. A number of his shows are no longer available on social media, but some clips are still online.
At a show in Penicuik, Nelson hypnotised a group of men who jumped around like kangaroos when the music started. The men took their seats when the music stopped and Nelson unleashed a verbal tirade against them.
'A***hole, sit doon,' he can be heard saying.
He added: 'What are yous daeing? What you daeing, you d**k? I'm in the middle of a show, here. A***holes. You and all.'
