Anas Sarwar says he’s “not going anywhere” and that a “mindless minority” in the far-right won’t dictate Scotland as a nation.
The Scottish Labour leader responded to speculation planned “far-right” protests could take place in Scotland after scenes of mass disorder erupted across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the last week.
Despite social media reports on Wednesday, Police Scotland said there was “no intelligence” to suggest a rally was to take place that day in Glasgow’s George Square.
Sarwar said he has no plans to take his family out of Scotland after former first minister Humza Yousaf said he doesn’t know if his children will be safe in the UK amid the rise in violence.
He told STV News: “Glasgow is my home, Scotland is my home. I’m not going anywhere and my family is not going anywhere.
“I’ve experienced racism and Islamophobia before but I will never allow the actions of a mindless minority to define who we are as a people and who we are as a country.
“Scotland is an open, welcoming, tolerant country and we have always rejected the far-right.
“We can’t be complacent but I’m confident if anything was to happen again, we would reject the politics of the far-right like we’ve seen in other parts of the country.”
STV NewsFirst Minister John Swinney said on Wednesday he “can’t predict the future” over whether far-right protests will travel north of the border.
He urged members of the public not to act on unfounded online speculation, and said Scots should “stick together” amid a “deeply anxious time” for communities.
He told STV News: “Police Scotland are undertaking a huge amount of intelligence gathering to make sure that should we face a situation in Scotland where there is any potential disorder, we have the necessarily police resources in place to address such a situation.
“I think its really important that we stick together as communities in what is a deeply anxious time for people and I heard these views very clearly from representatives from the faith communities of Scotland [on Wednesday] and I’m pleased that the political leaders of Scotland have come together…to make it abundantly clear that we believe there is absolutely no place for conflict of this type within our society and our communities should be peaceful places for everybody.”
Mosque echoes Police Scotland sentiment on ‘unverified information’
Glasgow’s Central Mosque advised members of the public to be “vigilant but not alarmed” and echoed the warning of police to be wary of unverified information.
A statement issued on Thursday read: “Glasgow Central Mosque (GCM) was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic murder of three children in Southport, and those injured.
“We were also shocked to witness the riots that ensued, and terror, Islamophobia and racism spread to other parts of England.
“For the last few days, there has been many rumours and unverified messages shared on social media about planned protests here in Glasgow.
“GCM has been engaging closely with Police Scotland, and we are grateful for their ongoing support since last week.
iStock“Police Scotland have confirmed that there is no intelligence to suggest any protest is planned here. We urge everyone to be wary of what you read on social media, avoid speculation and not to share unverified information.
“We urge everyone to remain vigilant but not be alarmed; Take sensible precautions for your safety; If you feel threatened or see anything suspicious, report it to the police on 999 for an emergency, or 101 for non-emergencies.
“Do not share any messages with unverified information or unsubstantiated rumours.
“GCM is proud to be at the heart of Glasgow’s diverse communities.
“Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to help people of all faiths and none and we are here for anyone who needs support.
“We are grateful to have received messages of support and solidarity from across civil society, faith groups and ordinary Glaswegians.
“Look out for one another, check in on your neighbours and the vulnerable, and let’s reject the peddlers of hate who wish to divide our society.”
The violence in other parts of the UK has seen racially-motivated assaults on people and businesses.
Audit Scotland, Scotland’s public spending watchdog, closed its offices in the city centre on Wednesday and instructed staff to work from home.
While Scotland’s police force said it did not expect such incidents north of the border, it recognised the fear communities may be feeling.
Assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie said: “We are providing reassurance to communities across the country through enhanced patrols and direct engagement.
“We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.”
Recovery walk rescheduled over ‘safety concerns’
Glasgow’s Recovery Walk, initially scheduled for Saturday, September 7, has been moved to October 12 over “safety concerns”.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson promoted a “pro-UK rally” in the city’s George Square on September 7.
Recovery Walk Scotland said: “We are sorry to announce that this year’s Recovery Walk Scotland on Saturday, September 7 is being re-scheduled.
“This is due to our safety concerns following speculation that a potential ‘Pro-UK Rally’ may be held in the city centre of Glasgow on the same day.
“We understand that this will be disappointing, but we need to ensure the safety and well-being of all the attendees at the walk, many of whom will be travelling into and through the city centre.
“The Recovery Walk is an important yearly event to bring together recovery communities from Scotland to raise and amplify the voices of recovery. This remains our goal!
“The walk will now be taking place on Saturday, October 12. We will be in touch with everyone who has registered for the event, our key partners and organisations who provide support and services on the day.
“If you have any questions, please get in touch with Heather at heather@scottishrecoveryconsortium.org Regular updates will be shared through our communication channels and social media.”
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