6 days ago
'Stomach turning racist' banners appear at new Clydebank location
Members of Clydebank Trade Union Council (CTUC) say they worry that "inflamed political tension" in the area could be dividing communities after they were described as "left-wing terrorists" by a local group.
The group of campaigners, with links to neo-nazi organisation Patriotic Alternative, have begun campaigning on the bridge over the Forth and Clyde Canal after a recent council motion declared they could not hang their banners on the bandstand any more.
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Members of the Clydebank Trade Union Council at the shopping centre. (Image: Newsquest)
The banners, which have slogans such as "secure our borders" and "migrants adored, pensioners ignored", have been described as stomach-turning by local politicians.
Tam Morrison, CTUC secretary, said: "It's a fascist organisation. They take umbrage at getting thrown off the bandstand and blame us for that.
"They were over in the bandstand, and there were a number of complaints made to the police about their offensive banners, which you could argue they're not overtly racist, but they are certainly dog whistling, and it's quite concerning given what's happening down south, and the riots in Ireland as well.
"We've seen what's happening in other parts of the country where that inflames tension. It's causing division among local communities."
Banners previously placed on the Clydebank bandstand. (Image: Sourced) Councillor Sophie Traynor (left) and Cllr Gordon Scanlan. (Image: Newsquest) Local councillors Sophie Traynor and Gordon Scanlan visited the bridge at the Clyde Shopping Centre to observe the group as they campaign.
Cllr Scanlan, leader for the SNP group at West Dunbartonshire Council, said: "These individuals said Scotland for Scots, and I'm here to tell them Scotland's not for Scots, it's for everyone, regardless of your background or where you've come from.
"The banners, quite frankly, are turning my stomach. I'm a resident here, and I pass them regularly.
"They make me fear for what someone who's come from another country will think, it makes me worry that it's causing them fear and alarm.
"There's a strict balance between free speech, where people need to be allowed to express their political views, and that's so important in democracy, but they can't border on being offensive or harmful.
"It's a very scary situation. I think if these sorts of views are allowed to become acceptable in the mainstream, I think we move to a very dangerous place."
Councillor Sophie Traynor, for the Clydebank Central ward, says she has contacted the local police force and Scottish Canals, who own the bridge, to make them aware of the situation.
She said: 'It feels very unwelcoming.
'At one point, they were taking up the whole bridge with their banner and blocking the way for people who were just going about their general daily life.
'They're doing their shopping, they're just meeting their friends, and yet they're facing this all the time.
'It's just a very unwelcome situation and I do think that there will be a lot of people who are concerned, especially if they're ethnic minorities themselves.'
The local police force says they have determined that the banners do not break hate crime regulations and are therefore not a criminal offence.
Scottish Canals were contacted for comment.
