Anti-racism campaigners believe it is an “intimidation tactic” against asylum seekers, as protests continue to rage outside hotels housing migrants.
The arrival of the “flag wars” seen in England – Union Jacks and St George’s crosses on lampposts at a time of tension over immigration – in Scotland poses a problem for the SNP.
“Refugees are welcome”, said the SNP leader. Residents angry about asylum seekers living close by to them do not appear to share his view.
Anti-migrant protesters demonstrate outside the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)
Around 100 people gathered to chant “get them out” at the latest demo outside the Cladhan Hotel on Wednesday evening. It is the fifth such event in the past month.
There have been heated exchanges with counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism and Falkirk for All, who have turned on the other side of a police barricade to chant: “Refugees are welcome here.”
Tensions have been building ever since June, when 29-year-old asylum seeker Sadeq Nikzad was jailed for the rape of a teenage girl in Falkirk town centre in 2023.
Cameron Manning, a 30-year-old campaigner with Falkirk for All, is dismayed. “We don’t believe it’s fair that because of a single incident that it is enough to tar an entire group,” he said.
Anti-asylum and anti-racism protesters outside Falkirk’s Cladhan Hotel (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)Some anti-asylum protesters who spoke to The i Paper dismissed the idea they have anything to do with the far right. Most referred to “safety” as their big motivation for turning up – citing the rape conviction.
“We don’t know who they are,” added the Falkirk resident. “It’s a disgrace that we don’t have control of who is coming in [to the UK]. They’re getting treated better than us. They get three meals a day, they get free board, they’re at the food banks.”
Anti-asylum hotel protesters Kevin (right) and Alan Valentine (Photos : The i Paper)Stand Up to Racism said Richard McFarlane of Patriotic Alternative – one of Britain’s largest far-right organisations – made a microphoned speech at the first Falkirk protest on 16 August.
Connor Graham, 28-year-lead organiser of SOFSOKF, told The i Paper: “I’ve done everything in my power to tell these outside organisations not to come. I had a conversation with him [McFarlane] a couple of days ago saying he’s not welcome here with his banners.”
Caption: Connor Graham, organiser of Save Our Future Save Our Kids Future (Photo: The i Paper)
Mark Paterson, chair of the Falkirk Trade Unions Council, said some people were “getting whipped up into a frenzy”. He accused the far-right elements of “jumping on the bandwagon” to stir up trouble.
“There’s a lack of jobs in Falkirk, a lack of housing, their own services have been cut – it’s a perfect storm. It’s being used against asylum seekers.”
“It’s not just about asylum seekers. That’s part of it. We should be looking after people in Falkirk first. But there’s no jobs here. There’s a lack of housing. The cost of living is disgraceful. So it’s frustration with a lot of things,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to people of south-Asian descent who have lived here all their lives who say it’s making them feel unwelcome.”
“It’s a symbol to politicians that things have to change,” said O’Kane. “When people say it’s racist, I take great offence at that.”
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However, the rise in support for Reform UK in Scotland poses a problem for both the SNP and Scottish Labour. Nigel Farage’s party is no longer seen as an English import and recent polls them on course to win up to 15 seats at next year’s Holyrood election.
“For Reform UK, they will want to be associated with anything that is Scottish,” said the Edinburgh University professor of public policy.
“It’s difficult for John Swinney and the SNP to say, ‘The Saltire is flag of welcome’, but exclude those you politically disagree with. Are they saying only they can define who uses Scottish symbols?”
The Home Office declined to comment on whether any discussions were going on with its Scottish asylum accommodation contractor, the Mears Group, to remove asylum seekers from the Cladhan Hotel.
Mears and the Falkirk hotel owners Hannigan Hotels both declined to comment. Patriotic Alternative were approached for comment.
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