Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Fringe event featuring John Swinney
Mr Swinney was speaking to comedian Susan Morrison when the event was disrupted five times by six different groups of protesters who held up signs that spelled the word 'genocide'.
As the event went on, tensions rose between the protesters and other members of the crowd, with three police officers called in and the First Minister's security team forced to keep people back from berating Mr Swinney on the stage.
The protesters shouted at the First Minister to stop funding arms companies through the Government's commercial arm Scottish Enterprise, as well as to describe the ongoing crisis in Gaza as a 'genocide'.
The First Minister sat quietly during the protests.
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Exposed: Palestine Action supporters' plot to overwhelm police
Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters are planning to flout terror laws in a co-ordinated attempt to overwhelm the police, The Telegraph can reveal. Campaigners have hatched a plot for Left-wing activists and members of the Muslim community to attend a demonstration on Saturday declaring support for Palestine Action, the recently banned terror group. To do so would be an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. More than 200 people have been arrested for expressing support for the group since July 5. Last week, one of the co-founders of Palestine Action won the right to challenge the legality of the ban. Now, campaigners plan to confront the criminal justice system en masse to test whether the law can be enforced if thousands of protesters descend on London. The move would ramp-up pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, who is simultaneously battling a 25-year High Court backlog and a chronic shortage of prison spaces. Protests are planned for towns and cities across the UK, but the main event will take place in Westminster where thousands are being urged to attend and deliberately flout the terror legislation. The Telegraph can now expose the plan, co-ordinated by a number of groups including Cage International and Defend Our Juries, after attending a pro-Palestine event last week. At the meeting, hosted by Cage International in Birmingham, Moazzam Begg, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, called on the Muslim community to join in the act of defiance and declare their support for Palestine Action. He told supporters: 'I would urge everybody to join the action of the 9th of August. That is the first step to take for the resistance. 'Those from the Muslim community, we have a massive presence in this city, and we must engage our leaders, our Imams, our habibs, those in positions of power, to join, there is strength in numbers, stop being a coward, cowards never win battles.' The meeting was attended by about 30 to 40 supporters, some of whom wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves and flags. The evening was billed by Shezana Hafiz, a Cage International representative, as an opportunity to 'discuss crucial matters that pertain to our movement – a movement to liberate Palestine, to crush Zionism and see an end to the genocide in Gaza'. During the meeting, Angie Zelter, from Defend Our Juries, urged people to take part in the co-ordinated action, telling attendees: 'Together we can and must face down the rising tide of fascism in Britain.' She said people were starting to see 'an arrest for terrorism as a badge of honour'. In a briefing document, drafted by Defend Our Juries and seen by The Telegraph, those considering taking part are warned: 'Joining this campaign comes with risk.' But the document goes on to say: 'It would be practically and politically difficult for the state to respond to an action on this scale. 'Even assuming it had the physical capacity to arrest so many people on the same day, the political fallout from such an operation would be incalculable, causing irreparable damage to the reputation of the Government and the police. 'Our assessment is that an action on this scale could be enough for the ban to be lifted. 'Charging and prosecuting at least 500 more people, in addition to the 200 people already arrested, is likely to be beyond the capacity of the state, given the current situation in the criminal justice system.' Volunteers are told to bring their own blank placard and a thick marker pen, and when in place to write the words: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' They are advised: 'Although there's a substantial risk of arrest, and all taking part should be prepared for that, no-one has yet been charged with an offence and no-one has been remanded to prison.' Experts have warned that the action could create a significant headache for police forces if thousands of people deliberately break the law in a co-ordinated campaign. Graham Wettone, a retired Metropolitan Police officer with many years experience working in public order policing, said: 'There are a limited number of custody cell spaces available in London and as we saw a couple of years ago with Just Stop Oil, these can fill up quickly. 'The Met may seek to take some of those arrested outside of the capital but there is no doubt that if thousands of people turn up and take part it will test the system to the limit. Simply put, they will not be able to arrest and process everyone.' The courts backlog is running at a 25-year high, with about 77,000 cases waiting to be heard and some trials being listed for 2027. Last year, Labour's early release scheme freed thousands of prisoners who were 40 per cent of the way through their sentence, rather than halfway. Legal challenge against proscription Palestine Action was outlawed by Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, on July 5 after a group of its members allegedly entered RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military aircraft. Last week, the co-founder of the group won the right to bring a legal challenge against proscription, arguing that the ban breached the right to freedom of expression and protest. A judicial review over the legality of the group is due to be heard in the autumn and could see the ban lifted. Of the 200 or so people who have been arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action since its proscription, none have yet been charged. It is thought that prosecutors are waiting for the outcome of the legal challenge before they make a decision on whether to put people before the courts. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. 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'Shameless': Trump's Big Golf Boast Backfires Amid Renewed Cheating Claims
The White House over the weekend bragged that President Donald Trump won yet another golf tournament just as a new video emerged that some say shows him cheating. 'Winning on and off the course,' the White House wrote on X, along with an image of a scorecard showing Trump shot a 69 ― 67 after adjusting for his handicap ― to win the men's senior championship at his Bedminster club. But the claim comes as Trump faces renewed accusations of cheating at the game, with many critics pointing to a video of him in Scotland last week in which the caddie casually dropped the ball for him. The day before Trump's latest tournament, sportswriter Rick Reilly ― who has golfed with Trump and authored an entire book detailing how he cheats at the game ― wondered aloud if the president would dare to declare himself the winner. 'Tomorrow is the Senior Champ at Bedminster,' he wrote on X. 'Are you shameless enough to pretend you won it? Even after the whole planet saw you cheat in Scotland? Is your ego that sick?' After Trump won, he wrote in a follow-up: 'Guess we got our answer. What a child.' After another new video surfaced showing a caddie dropping the ball for Trump ― this time in Bedminster, possibly from the day of the tournament ― Reilly added: So you know, it's NEVER legal for your caddy to drop a ball. YOU can drop one, but never on a green. And since this was a full-score event, its not legal for Trump to drag the ball into the hole. No, no, never. Our president is a f*cking golf cheat. — Rick Reilly (@ReillyRick) August 3, 2025 Reilly has previously pointed out that Trump only wins on the courses he owns as more evidence he cheats. 'He's played in Pebble Beach, he's played in the Tahoe one, where there are rules and judges and cameras. And in those, he's never finished in the top half,' he said on MSNBC last year. Others who've played with the president have also accused him of cheating, including boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who once explained in detail some of Trump's tricks. Rock icon/golf enthusiast Alice Cooper didn't quite come out and call Trump a cheater. But he came close. 'The worst celebrity golf cheat? I wish I could tell you that,' he told Q magazine in 2012. 'It would be a shocker. I played golf with Donald Trump one time. That's all I'm going to say.' Given that history ― and the recent videos ― Trump's critics weren't about to grant him a gimme on his latest championship claim: Cheater-in-chief — Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 3, 2025 I think the numbers are rigged who should we fire now? — Tracey Gallagher (@asmartbrunette1) August 2, 2025 Trump cheated at golf just like he cheats at everything else. — Jacob R. Adkins (@JacobRAdkins3) August 3, 2025 Dear Leader greatest golfer on planet. — Hamish Mitchell (@H_MitchellPhoto) August 3, 2025 This is an actual tweet from the White House. — Jeff Dufour (@dcdufour) August 3, 2025 Sure sure.....👀👇 — TeinaPosts.🇪🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦🇨🇦🇦🇺🇫🇷 (@RafaMorgan64) August 2, 2025 Why is the White House tweeting about the president's golf score? — Evan O'Connell (@evanoconnell) August 3, 2025 When pigs fly. — Kevin McNamee 🌻 (@kwmcnamee) August 4, 2025 Beyond laughable you gaslighting twits. ZERO chance that he shot an actual 69 without cheating. — RJ Sauter (@rjsauter) August 3, 2025 Tell you what, next time he 'competes' let someone video the entire round and post it, unedited. But I bet he's too chicken shit for that. — Bob Dalton (@BobD_313) August 4, 2025 This is the weirdest thing Trump does. 79 year olds don't shoot 69. He just straight up lies about his golf score like a North Korean leader would. — A Fellow Chucker, Eh? (@RuFiOooooh) August 3, 2025
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'Riot at asylum seeker hotel will not stain our town'
On 4 August 2024, TV screens across Britain were filled with violent scenes unfolding in Manvers, a usually quiet suburb of Wath upon Dearne, near Rotherham in South Yorkshire. Viewers watched live as fires were set outside a hotel housing 200 asylum seekers, with a mob chanting "burn it down" as bricks and bottles were hurled at windows and police officers. One year on, barely any visible signs of damage remain at the Holiday Inn Express on Manvers Way. But last year's riot left behind more than scorched walls and shattered glass - it exposed deep fractures in public trust and a town's quiet determination to rise above fear and division. "I live about a mile away," Patrick tells the BBC. "I could see it burning, I could see the smoke coming from it." Patrick is one of about 17,000 people who live in Wath. That day, he watched as riot police scrambled to the scene, sirens and shouts echoing through the streets. A police helicopter circled overhead, mounted officers lined Manvers Way. The town, nestled in the triangle between Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, was once the beating heart of the region's coal industry. Like many former mining communities, the area has a complex relationship with authority - including the police and media - a tension deepened in the wake of the Rotherham child abuse scandal. On the morning of 4 August, members of anti-immigration and pro-immigration organisations gathered outside the hotel in Manvers for a peaceful protest. By early afternoon, the atmosphere had turned volatile. Pro-immigration protesters were led to safety by police. Mike, who is from Wath but now lives in Batley, says: "I remember seeing the images and I know the place well. "I was a bit shocked by it all." He does not support what happened in Manvers but says the country has "an immigration problem that needs to be solved". "I don't know how we go about that, to be honest," he says. "We're too full." On the day, dozens of anti-immigration protesters wore balaclavas, while others had England flags and Union Jacks draped around their shoulders. Some stood topless, drinking from cans of beer, and some had even brought their children. Bins were set alight and pushed against fire exits, preventing those inside - including 25 hotel staff - from leaving. Bricks, fence posts, furniture and rocks were thrown at hotel windows and police officers. Smaller groups tried to tip over an occupied police van, while others made repeated attempts to breach the building, eventually managing to get inside. When it was all over, the cost of the damage had mounted to an estimated £1m. More than 100 people - mostly men from Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - have since been convicted in relation to the Manvers riot. More than a dozen youths, aged between 13 and 17, received referral orders. Some 64 police officers were injured - several seriously - as well as three police horses and one police dog. Steve Kent, chair of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, says many officers are still dealing with the physical and psychological effects. "Some of the cops were at the (2001) Bradford riots and the (2011) London riots and they've said they've never known anything like the level of aggression and just viciousness of some of the behaviour that was put towards them on the day," he says. "We had a flurry of officers (coming to us) at the time, but it's also since officers have been triggered by going to other disorder events at football." Stand Up To Racism campaigner, Phil Turner, says his group was forced to retreat on the day for safety reasons. "The level of violence on the day last year was such where I think they could and certainly would have wanted to kill people inside the hotel," Mr Turner, a former journalist, recalls. Despite the shocking scenes, Mr Turner says the support and "outpouring of solidarity" that followed the riot was encouraging. "Forty years ago this was the heart of the mining strike, a very solidly working-class area where people stuck together," he says. "I think it's something that we can rebuild." The Manvers riot, described as one of the worst cases of civil disorder in the UK in recent history, was part of a wave of unrest across the UK last summer, which broke out following the mass stabbings in Southport. The perpetrator, who could not be named initially due to his age, had targeted a Taylor Swift-themed dance class and murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six. Rumours circulating on social media claimed the 17-year-old killer was Muslim; an asylum seeker who had recently arrived to the country by boat. In reality, he was born and raised in Wales to Rwandan Christian parents who had migrated to the UK in 2002. Terri, who runs The Little Curiosity Shoppe in Wath, says misinformation and a lack of transparency over who was housed in the Manvers hotel escalated already growing tensions. "I think that causes unrest," she says. "I think if people don't know, they then jump to their own conclusions." The Holiday Inn Express in Manvers was contracted to provide accommodation for refugees on behalf of the government in 2022, prompting protests in February 2023. By 2024, about 200 asylum seekers were being housed in the building. None of the people who the BBC spoke to condone the summer violence but say they "can understand why it happened". "We're all fed up with having nothing," Pam says. "You work all your lives and you can't get in to see a doctor, you can't get in to see a dentist. These people are coming over - who are all men - are walking around Wath." According to the Home Office, 109,343 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending March 2025. More than half were adult men and 11% were males aged 17 and under. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and usually get an allowance of £49.18 per person per week for food, clothing and toiletries (or £9.95 per person if their accommodation provides meals) as well as access to free healthcare. They cannot choose where they live and are housed in either a flat, house, hostel or bed and breakfast. Pam, like many others, feels the country is at breaking point. With proposed benefit cuts and the cost of living crisis, she believes the UK can no longer afford to support asylum seekers in the way it once did. "We've just got to look after our own and I feel very sorry that it's got to this, but this country needs to have a complete overhaul," she says. "It's just continually 'you can't afford this, this has gone up, cost of living, your benefits are coming down' - and then they're walking round in new clothes and it's not right." South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard agrees more must be done to tackle "the immigration crisis", calling for greater government support for regions like his that have hosted asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. "I want those places to get support from the government to make sure that we have access equally in our communities, to opportunities, to jobs, to doctors' appointments, to school places," he says. "We need a transport network that connects people up so that they can access opportunities outside of their community, and we need good homes, good houses for young people and education." To rebuild community trust, several grassroots initiatives received targeted funding, including Voluntary Action Rotherham. The non-profit organisation's strategic cohesion coordinator, Jonathan Ellis, says the charity currently offers weekly walks to celebrate Rotherham's green spaces and is planning to host several celebrations over the next few months. "I think people feel more connected now than perhaps they did 12 months ago and this project is about keeping that cohesion going, keeping those community links developing," Mr Ellis says. Saeed Sayed and Raja Khan, members of non-profit charity Rotherham Friends in Deed, say the riot was not a "real reflection" of the community. To them, the true character of the town lies not in the headlines, but in the acts of people's kindness and their shared belief that Rotherham can - and will - move forward, together. "I have been in this town for about 50 years and I found it very, very welcoming," Mr Sayed says. "Where I live I am perhaps one of the only two Asian families and there's a lot of love, respect and care for each other. "I feel very confidently that whatever the challenges we'll rise through them." Mr Khan, who was born in Kashmir, says that while he enjoys returning to his birthplace, Rotherham is where his heart is. "My home is Rotherham and the home of my children and grandchildren and hopefully great-grandchildren is Rotherham," he says. "We love Rotherham. It is a great town and it's not going to be stained by what happened at Manvers." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Not 'a racist bone in his body' - family of rioter 'Worst' hotel youth rioter sentenced in court Asylum hotel rioter jailed for nine years Solve the daily Crossword
