Sturgeon condemns ‘English stay out’ protest at border
NICOLA STURGEON has condemned a “racist” border protest in which nationalists urged English visitors to stay out of Scotland – but she refused to commit herself to kicking any participants out of the SNP.
At the weekend, a group of masked protesters gathered at the border, near Berwick-upon-tweed, wearing hazmat suits in reference to England’s higher number of coronavirus cases.
They displayed a banner saying “Keep Scotland Covid free”, with one claiming the group was there to “protect the border” against infection.
Another was filmed saying the protest had been set up to tell people from England to “stay the f--- out”.
Speaking at her press briefing in Edinburgh yesterday, Ms Sturgeon strongly condemned the protest, and insisted English people were welcome in Scotland.
She said anti-english sentiment was “not what my party is about” and that she agreed with Humza Yousaf, her Justice Secretary, who branded the event “horrible, reprehensible and vile” and called protesters “racist” and “morons”. However, she was criticised by opponents for taking 48 hours to condemn the event, and for refusing to commit to taking action against any participants who were SNP members.
Some protesters flew SNP flags at the event, and The Daily Telegraph understands that one participant confirmed SNP members had taken part.
Asked whether there would be an investigation, and if any SNP members who took part would be kicked out of her party, Ms Sturgeon said: “I can’t stop people waving SNP banners.”
She added: “I can be very clear that they don’t speak for us. I’m not going to speak about internal disciplinary arrangements in the SNP. I can’t be any clearer than I have been that the SNP is an open, welcoming party.”
However, Annie Wells, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, claimed that “constant attempts to provoke arguments between Scotland and England” had “emboldened racists”.
Meanwhile, pubs in Scotland reopened beer gardens yesterday for the first time since lockdown.
One of the political consequences of the pandemic has been the resurgence of Scottish nationalist sentiment. Polls over the past few months have shown a consistent lead for the SNP and now indicate a majority supporting independence. The implications of these trends for the future of the United Kingdom are considerable yet are being largely ignored at Westminster.
A decision on whether to stage another referendum is for the UK Government since the matter is not devolved and affects the entire country. But the reality is that if the SNP wins a substantial majority at the Holyrood elections next year it will be impossible for Boris Johnson to stop it. Whether the Scots, confronted with the same choice as in 2014 but in markedly worse economic circumstances, would chose separatism is another matter entirely.
Devolution has allowed Nicola Sturgeon to carve out a distinctly Scottish approach to the pandemic, although differing more in timing than substance. The First Minister has managed to give the impression of being more in control of events north of the border than Boris Johnson at Westminster. Partly this is because telling people what to do comes more easily to her than it does to the Prime Minister. But these optics are important and are nurturing a shift in political priorities. The SNP’S poll lead points to a big majority in the Scottish parliament from next year: another referendum will be top of its policy list.
Support for secession might abate as the crisis recedes. But the pollster Sir John Curtice says public support for the Union has never looked so weak in its 313-year history. It is time for those who hold it dear to speak up in its defence.