In recent weeks, outbreaks of far-right violence have erupted in several cities throughout England and Northern Ireland while Scotland has remained relatively unscathed. The widespread unrest began after the murders of three girls in Southport, with online posts falsely claiming that the attacker was an asylum seeker and Muslim. Subsequently, mosques have been targeted, police officers injured and businesses burned, including hotels that housed asylum seekers. The unrest has been reportedly organised on social media, with negative and often racist attitudes towards immigration inflaming the situation.
There has been speculation about the cause and whether Scotland is immune from such unrest. Historians warn against the assumption of “Scottish exceptionalism” – a sense of superiority over attitudes that are allegedly more liberal and forward-thinking than in other parts of the UK. However, attitudes in Scotland towards immigration are more favourable, and recent Scottish Social Attitudes Surveys show an increasingly positive attitude towards immigration. In contrast to Scotland’s less fraught situation, Wales has also managed to avoid the disorder.
Despite this, it is important not to view Scotland as wholly welcoming and free from fear and mistrust. For many people, their primary sense of identity is Scottish, and campaigns that focus on Britishness do not have the same impact in Scotland. However, the proportion of people identifying as Muslim and the importance immigration plays in the national demographic is higher in England than Scotland. The ruling SNP is also a “civic nationalist party” with a welcoming attitude towards immigrants.
Lizzie Dearden, a journalist and UK far-right expert, warns that events in Southport were not unexpected given that far-right groups tend to capitalise on moments of national trauma. In conclusion, it is difficult to pinpoint a reason why Scotland has remained relatively untouched by the unrest but maintaining strong community relations, and peaceful anti-racism rallies are integral to ensuring this continues
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
