Scotland's major political parties have united against plans by far right group, the Scottish Defence League (SDL), to march through Glasgow City Centre later this month.

SNP Deputy Leader, Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie and Green MSP Patrick Harvie came together to condemn the march.

In an open letter to Glasgow City Council, the group - which also includes trade unions, churches and human rights lawyers - have called upon the council to refuse permission for the SDL to hold a public procession through Glasgow’s streets.

The SDL notified the council last month of its intention to protest in the city and assemble in George Square on February 25.

Glasgow City Council claimed it has already asked the SDL to change plans for the march after fears over public safety if the procession is to take a route from Blythswood Square through Nelson Mandela Place to George Square.

However a spokesman for the SDL said the group had not been asked by the council to redirect the march or call it off at all.

The letter was written by Glasgow MSP Humza Yousaf. It reads: "We the undersigned express our extreme concern at our streets being used for the peddling of hatred. We vigorously oppose giving the Scottish Defence League (SDL), or any of their offshoots, permission to hold a public procession through Glasgow.

"We understand that an application has gone in to Glasgow City Council and that the SDL are in discussions with the police and the local authority. We urge all authorities to reject this application on the grounds of public safety and moral decency."

Representatives from the UNISON, the Church of Scotland, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and the Muslim Council of Scotland also signed the letter.

Mr Yousaf said: "I am a firm believer in free speech – regardless of how unsavoury it may be. However it is imperative freedom of speech is not at the expense of public safety. The SDL must not be given free rein on our streets to peddle their toxic hatred.

“It is perverse that the SDL application to march along our city will go through Nelson Mandela Place. We have seen previous defence league marches end in violence as mindless thugs go on the rampage against shopkeepers, businesses and innocent bystanders."

Local authorities have limited powers to control public processions, including asking protest organisers to make alterations to the date, time, duration and route of their procession.

When the application was first lodged, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "A group identifying itself as the Scottish Defence League has notified us of its intention to hold a public procession in the city centre on the afternoon of February 25.

"We have legitimate concerns about public safety and public order and have asked organisers to withdraw their notification; or to consider holding an event in an enclosed area, such as a hall, instead.

"If the group is not prepared to do this, it is likely the proposed march will have to be called in to a Public Processions Committee for consideration."

Paul O’Donnell, SDL regional organiser and spokesman, said: "It would be a silly proposal to have it in a hall. We are still negotiating the procession just now with the police and the council.

"They’ve actually been quite helpful. There’s no indication that it could be cancelled or that they will move the route. We will have 25 stewards for 250 people and we have a chief steward.

"We’ve every confidence in Strathclyde Police and we are confident that they will do their job."  

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• Full text of letter from Scotland's political leaders to Glasgow City Council