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Spectator
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Reform has to distance itself from extremists
According to the National – a worrying phrase, I admit, given the Scottish newspaper's obsessive adulation of anyone pro-Scottish independence and its obsessive hostility to anyone who opposes it – this weekend saw a Scottish Reform councillor share a platform with a member of a far-right group at a protest outside a Falkirk hotel housing asylum seekers. What is most interesting about this story is not the protest itself, or even the Reform councillor's presence. It is the response of Reform to one of its councillors sharing a platform with this person and saying or doing nothing about it. Despite the widespread labelling of anyone who believes that our borders should be controlled as far right, and despite the usual bias of the National, the facts it has reported seem clear. At the protest, Claire Mackie-Brown shared a platform with one Richard McFarlane, a member of Patriotic Alternative, which describes itself as a 'ethno-nationalist organisation that campaigns for the rights and wellbeing of White Britons.' Last year, the government's anti-extremism advisor described Patriotic Alternative as 'a racist and anti-Semitic far-right group founded in 2019 by former BNP youth leader Mark Collett.' Cllr Mackie-Brown can be forgiven if she had no idea who McFarlane was when he began to speak. But once he did, no one could have been in any doubt about his views. In his seven-minute speech he asserted that, 'we need to give them the fingers, and say we are white, we are British, we are proud'. He concluded: 'Keep Britain white, keep Britain British.' According to the protest organiser, neither the Reform councillor nor the Patriotic Alternative member were invited to speak: 'The microphone was open to anyone who wished to share their personal concerns or experiences. No speakers were formally invited or endorsed by the organisers it was a platform for local people. If individuals with affiliations to political groups or outside organisations chose to speak, that was entirely their choice and not something we had pre-arranged or promoted.' That's fair enough, and in those circumstances it's easy to see how a local residents' protest was overrun by the far-right. But that is far from being a one-off. One of the recurring themes of these protests up and down the country is how they attract the far-right. Which makes it all the more obvious, and all the more important, that mainstream politicians from mainstream parties should have a serious and convincing response when the far-right are present. At the very least, that needs to involve denouncing the racism and the white nationalism of extremists. Otherwise, it becomes easy to label all the protests as being far-right, and to label representatives of parties such as Reform which stand alongside them as being part of the far-right. As far as one can tell from reports, which have not been contradicted, that did not happen this weekend in Falkirk. Cllr Mackie-Brown appears to have said nothing in response. But while Cllr Mackie-Brown may have been out of her depth and blindsided by what she heard, one might expect that Reform itself would have a ready-made response to such issues. And it has: but the response is useless. Reform told the National: 'Councillor Claire Brown was there to represent Reform and her concerned constituents, she is not responsible for the other people attending and will continue to stand up for residents on this extremely important issue.' Of course she isn't responsible for the other speakers. No one has suggested she is. But as a representative of Reform, she – and anyone else in a similar situation – has to react. You can't simply pretend you are in a bubble, removed from scene, when someone you are standing with is ranting 'Keep Britain white.' It's a similar point to what has been happening on the 'Free Palestine' hate marches. The argument is made that the majority present are ordinary, decent people simply concerned about the deaths in Gaza. They may indeed be. But if you turn up at a march to discover that a proportion of your fellow marchers are Jew haters, chanting anti-Semitic slogans and waving anti-Semitic banners, then you have a choice. You can leave, distancing yourself. Or – as has been happening – you can continue on the march and, even worse, come back the following week, again saying and doing nothing to condemn the hate around you. And in doing so you not only remove any claim to decency, you become part of the problem. Reform has the same choice to make. Does it pretend that it is not part of the same protest when the far-right arrives? Or does it denounce and condemn racists for leaching onto a legitimate protest by ordinary and decent local residents? This will be a recurring theme for Reform as its elected officials and members – entirely legitimately – attend protests outside asylum hotels and are joined by far-right agitators. Unless Reform finds a way to properly distance itself from them, it will be tarred with their brush.
Scotsman
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Ties that bind us to Europe
An anti-Brexit pro-Scottish independence activist holds a flag mixing the EU flag and the Scottish Saltire A new poll has underlined what many in Scotland already know. If we choose independence, Europe is ready to welcome us back. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The YouGov survey, conducted across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Denmark, shows clear support for an independent Scotland joining the European Union. In each country polled, support for Scottish membership ranged from 63 to 75 per cent. It is a reminder that Scotland's values, outlook and aspirations continue to align with our European neighbours. Despite Westminster's hard Brexit and Labour's refusal to revisit EU alignment, there is another way forward. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The same survey found that more people across the UK support Scottish EU membership than oppose it. While Westminster continues to ignore the damage of Brexit, other countries see the benefits of EU membership and the cost of being outside it. Brexit has harmed our economy, undermined our public services and taken opportunities away from young people. Scotland did not vote for it, yet we are living with the consequences every day. That damage is not abstract. It means rising food prices, falling investment, and fewer chances for students, workers and researchers to engage with Europe. We are seeing the real effects in communities across Scotland. Edinburgh is one of the most pro-Europe cities in the UK and the SNP is the only party serious about rejoining the EU. As we move forward to the 2026 election, voters will want to ask which party pursues the path to strengthen ties with our European partners and in time, restore our place as an equal partner in the European Union.
The National
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney urged to join Independence Summit by Alba
Alba party leader Kenny MacAskill has called on the heads of all of the main pro-Scottish independence parties to unite and take part in his party's summit ahead of the All Under One Banner (AOUB) March in Glasgow on Saturday. Earlier in April, Alba MSP Ash Regan called for a convention to be held a year out from the Holyrood elections, insisting that 'energy' needs to be rebuilt if independence is to be a 'realistic proposition' to voters. However, the SNP sidestepped Alba's call, and the Greens poured cold water on the proposal, saying the party has 'significantly different visions about what an independent Scotland would look like'. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar 'shamefully silent' as Labour MPs demand 'change' from Keir Starmer MacAskill has now written to the leaders of each of Scotland's pro-independence parties urging them to reconsider their decision following Reform UK's surge in the English local elections on Friday. He added that by attending the summit, all parties involved can help create a clear way forward for demanding and achieving independence. MacAskill (below) wrote: 'Scotland is crying out for Independence as sky high energy costs and the threat posed to the poorest and weakest in our society from Westminster's benefit cuts clearly demonstrates. (Image: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire) 'In the week when oil refining finally ended at Grangemouth with the loss of 400 jobs and it was revealed that 80,000 children in Scotland are living in severe poverty. And just yesterday, we witnessed the beginning of Farage's march to Downing Street. It is beyond doubt that Westminster rule is failing the people of Scotland. 'An urgent push for Independence is essential. The coming Holyrood election can be Scotland's Independence Election but it requires all pro-Independence parties to come together in a show of unity. 'We can disagree about the why of Independence but we can all agree on the urgent necessity of achieving Independence and begin to discuss and agree how we get there.' AUOB organisers said they expect around 5000 people to join the demonstration this Saturday, which will begin in the city's West End. The march will set off from Kelvin Way at 11.30am, moving through the city centre before ending at Glasgow Green. Organisers have encouraged demonstrators to bring banners, placards, megaphones, flags, pipes, and drums to create a lively and visible display of support for Scottish independence. At the rally, Alba's MacAskill is expected to call on other party leaders to agree to join the independence summit, as he said unity amongst the parties would be the bedrock towards the cause. MacAskill added: 'That is why I am writing to John and the other pro-Independence party leaders asking them to commit to taking part in an Independence Summit. 'Independence offers a better way for Scotland but we need to work together to achieve it. An Independence Summit can be the first step in charting a clear and positive way forward. 'Unity is strength, and must be the bedrock of the Independence cause. Let us unite the movement and come together in a show of unity. If we unite we will win!'
