John Swinney speaks of ‘distress’ after ‘disorder’ in Glasgow

Those responsible for last week’s “disorder” in Glasgow must be held to account for the “safety” of Scotland’s communities, John Swinney has insisted.

The First Minister made clear that “violence is never acceptable”, as he restated his Government’s opposition to “hatred in all its forms”.

Just over a week after protests flared in Scotland, he met with anti-racism campaigners and those working with refugees.

The talks came after two police officers and three people were injured in disturbances in Glasgow last week – with police saying members of the public had been “attacked because of the colour of their skin”.

That took place in the wake of a knife attack in Belfast on Monday, June 8, with a Sudanese national later appearing in court.

Swinney, who met representatives of both the Anti-Racism Coalition and the Scottish Refugee Council in Edinburgh on Thursday, stressed that Scotland must not be defined by the “actions of a small, hateful minority”.

Speaking after the talks he said: “I am clear that I am First Minister for everyone in Scotland. For every community, every background, every faith, and every identity.

“The recent disorder in Glasgow and elsewhere, following the serious incidents in Belfast and Southampton, have caused a lot of distress for many people.

“Violence is never acceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable to ensure the safety of all our communities.”

He stressed that the Scottish Government “stands firmly against hatred in all its forms” with the First Minister instead speaking on the need to build trust by “tackling prejudice at its roots, and strengthening the connections that bind our communities together”.

He stated: “When we build trust, we weaken division. And when we stand together, we make Scotland stronger.

“We cannot allow the actions of a small, hateful minority to define us or what we stand for. Nor we can we allow fear to take hold. Instead, we must be guided by the kind of country we know Scotland is.

“One where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and where everyone can live safely and without fear.

“My Government is committed to that vision and to working hand in hand with partners and communities across Scotland to deliver it.”

As part of this effort he told how the Scottish Government funding is “supporting hundreds of cross-community activities” which are “helping to bring people together, educate, and tackle misinformation and disinformation” and are “ultimately building stronger communities where people feel safe”.

Sabir Zazai, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, meanwhile said: “Last week we saw violence in our streets and people being targeted because of the colour of their skin.

“Irresponsible language, toxic narratives and repeated falsehoods are causing real-life harm to innocent people.

“It is vital that we name racism and call out misinformation when we see it.”

He insisted: “We need to see the Scottish Government lead the way by investing in cohesion and ensuring people seeking safety and the communities who welcome them have the infrastructure and support they need to thrive.”