Latest news with #ClydebankBandstand
Glasgow Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
'Horrifying' neo-Nazi presence near Glasgow condemned
A banner emblazoned with Patriotic Alternative (PA) and the slogan 'Scotland for the Scots' has been spotted in the town as have others in recent weeks which are also believed to be connected to the group. PA was founded by a former leading member of the British National Party (BNP) and has links to an extreme, violence-obsessed Nazi group National Action, which was banned under anti-terror legislation. Mr McDougall said: 'It is important that decent folk in Barrhead know who Patriotic Alternative are. 'They are a neo-Nazi organisation whose leader praises Hitler, and whose members have links to the banned Nazi terror group National Action.' Despite being the UK's most active fascist organisation, according to anti-fascist organisation Hope not Hate, PA remains fringe with an active membership numbering in the low hundreds. The group was present at a protest outside a Falkirk hotel housing asylum seekers at the weekend. In June, West Dunbartonshire Council passed a motion condemning the "racist" banners, flyers and posters displayed at the Clydebank Bandstand by the group. Patriotic Alternative are not standing a candidate in the council by-election taking place in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward on Thursday (August 21). One of the aforementioned banners, however, urged people to 'vote for Reform', who are. Mr McDougall added that he hopes Reform 'disavows support of these extremists'. 'A group like this campaigning in the local by-election is horrifying," he said. 'People in Barrhead are better than this, and proud of our local history fighting against Hitler. 'I'm in touch with anti-Nazi campaigners Hope Not Hate and the police. "These hooligans won't turn local people against each other.' A spokesperson for Reform said: "Reform UK and Andy MacGibbon has run a positive campaign in Barrhead, focused on the people's priorities. "We can't control who supports us as our opponents know, yet they have nothing positive to offer people so resort to this sort of mudslinging. "The public deserve better." Georgie Laming, the director of campaigns at Hope not Hate who have slammed the group for co-opting local issues, described the group's presence in Barrhead as worrying. 'PA has accommodated and even promoted former activists from the proscribed group National Action and multiple key activists have been jailed under race hate or terror-related charges,' he added. 'They are undeniably hateful and extreme.' A mother-of-two, who spotted banners yesterday in Main Street before later noticing that these had been taken down, also shared her concerns. The 47-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: 'I am a parent of young people at Barrhead High School. "Our family has engaged within the Barrhead community since the children started school in primary one. 'At that time, they were often the only minority ethnic children in their year group but always felt included as part of a tight-knit community in Barrhead overall. 'I was disturbed therefore to see signs saying 'Scotland is for Scots only' going up on the Main Street as we know well what this means. 'It's a racist dog whistle that is used to create division amongst our united communities and suggests those that are not white are not welcome as Scots. 'This is a deeply negative and harmful message that we do not need in Barrhead. "It is makes me worry about the safety of my children and the growing multicultural demographic within the community. 'After the terrible scenes in Falkirk and Aberdeen last weekend, minority ethnic communities are becoming fearful for their safety and future in our own communities. 'I really hope the Barrhead community will overwhelmingly reject this kind of rhetoric at the local election this week. We don't need it here.' A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed that officers attended an incident on Main Street this week in relation to a small group of people with a banner on display. It is understood that Police Scotland's job is to facilitate peaceful protest and freedom of speech if the behaviour does not breach any European Convention on Human Rights pillars or stray into criminality. On this occasion, officers found that it did not. 'The banner was viewed, and it was established that no criminality had occurred,' explained the spokesperson. 'Officers remained in the area until all participants had dispersed, and no banners remained at this location.'
Glasgow Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
'Neo-Nazis' disrupt West Dunbartonshire Council meeting
During the meeting, a motion was presented to elected members by councillor Jim Bollan urging them to condemn the "racist" banners, flyers and posters that had been displayed at the Clydebank Bandstand recently by Patriotic Alliance. Similar banners were also attached to railings in front of the council chambers in Dumbarton on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18. The organisation has been described as a far-right, fascist, neo-Nazi and white nationalist hate group, and have recently used the bandstand at the Clydebank Shopping Centre to demonstrate their views to the public. Councillor Bollan's motion had asked the council to authorise council officials to remove any such items attached to the council-owned bandstand in Clydebank Shopping Centre, that do not have prior written consent from West Dunbartonshire Council as soon as practical. But as councillor Bollan tried to speak, he was interrupted by chanting from the public gallery from at least three or four protesters who kept repeating 'Scotland is for Scots'. They were asked to sit down and be quiet by Provost Karen Murray Conaghan, who also told them to stop filming and taking pictures of the meeting and if they couldn't they would be told to leave. Provost Murray Conaghan said: 'Excuse me, can I ask you to be quiet in the public gallery. It is a meeting in public, not a meeting for you to contribute to. 'You sit there and be quiet during the meeting or I will ask you to leave. If you can't be quiet, you will have to leave and take your hand off the barrier.' The provost was then made aware that filming was taking place. READ MORE: Council urged to remove 'far-right racist' banners from Clydebank landmark READ MORE: Frankie Boyle backs major demonstration in Glasgow this weekend Councillor Murray Conaghan continued: 'There is no filming permitted. If you continue to film, you will be asked to leave now. Please put your phone away.' Councillor Bollan was able to continue speaking on his motion. He said: 'The overt racist posters being displayed by Patriotic Alternative in Clydebank could be a precursor to the racist violent behaviour we are seeing in Ireland at the moment where non-whites are having their homes fire bombed because of the colour of their skin. 'Groups like Patriotic Alternative are cheerleaders for Reform, which is a racist party and use the fact that the two larger political parties are not delivering for the policies needed by our working-class communities. 'That void is being used by extremists to blame refugees and asylum seekers as a divide and conquer tactic, commonly used by racists. By supporting this motion, West Dunbartonshire Council will be sending a clear message that we are anti racist and inclusive of all races. 'Before I came into this meeting, I noticed some of the banners which are outside which are overtly racist. It is unacceptable in West Dunbartonshire.' As councillors started to discuss the motion, the meeting was interrupted again as protesters continued to cause disruption and were asked to leave as a result. Provost Murray Conaghan told the public gallery: 'If you can't put your phone down and stop filming, I will ask you to leave the gallery. 'The recording is available at home so you can listen to it there. You need to put your phone away. We will pause until we restore a bit of public order in the public gallery – sorry members.' The group was escorted out by security and the meeting resumed.
The National
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Group of 'neo-Nazis' escorted out from council meeting
During the meeting, a motion was presented to elected members by councillor Jim Bollan urging them to condemn the racist banners, flyers and posters that had been displayed at the Clydebank Bandstand recently by Patriotic Alliance. Similar banners were also attached to railings in front of the council chambers in Dumbarton on Wednesday afternoon. The organisation has been described as a far-right, fascist, neo-Nazi and white nationalist hate group, and have recently used the bandstand at the Clydebank Shopping Centre to demonstrate their views to the public. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar urged to whip Scottish Labour MPs against welfare cuts Councillor Bollan's motion had asked the council to authorise council officials to remove any such items attached to the Council-owned Bandstand in Clydebank Shopping Centre, that do not have prior written consent from West Dunbartonshire Council as soon as practical. But as councillor Bollan tried to speak, he was interrupted by chanting from the public gallery from at least three or four protesters who kept repeating 'Scotland is for Scots'. They were asked to sit down and be quiet by Provost Karen Murray Conaghan , who also told them to stop filming and taking pictures of the meeting, and if they couldn't, they would be told to leave. Provost Murray Conaghan said: 'Excuse me, can I ask you to be quiet in the public gallery. It is a meeting in public, not a meeting for you to contribute to. 'You sit there and be quiet during the meeting or I will ask you to leave. If you can't be quiet you will have to leave and take your hand off the barrier.' The provost was then made aware that filming was taking place. (Image: Newsquest) Councillor Murray Conaghan continued: 'There is no filming permitted. If you continue to film you will be asked to leave now. Please put your phone away.' Councillor Bollan was able to continue speaking on his motion. He said: 'The overt racist posters being displayed by Patriotic Alternative in Clydebank could be a precursor to the racist violent behaviour we are seeing in Ireland at the moment where non-whites are having their homes fire bombed because of the colour of their skin. 'Groups like Patriotic Alternative are cheerleaders for Reform which is a racist party and use the fact that the two larger political parties are not delivering for the policies needed by our working class communities. 'That void is being used by extremists to blame refugees and asylum seekers as a divide and conquer tactic, commonly used by racists. By supporting this motion West Dunbartonshire Council will be sending a clear message that we are anti racist and inclusive of all races. 'Before I came into this meeting I noticed some of the banners which are outside which are overtly racist. It is unacceptable in West Dunbartonshire.' As councillors started to discuss the motion, the meeting was interrupted again as protesters continued to cause disruption and were asked to leave as a result. Provost Murray Conaghan told the public gallery: 'If you can't put your phone down and stop filming I will ask you to leave the gallery. 'The recording is available at home so you can listen to it there. You need to put your phone away. We will pause until we restore a bit of public order in the public gallery – sorry members.' The group was escorted out by security and the meeting resumed.
