Nationalist racism
The London mayor’s comments at the weekend’s Scottish Labour Party conference equating nationalism with racism appear to have caused something of a stir.
I think there is a darker side to Scottish nationalism, one that distinguishes it from the patriotism that infuses both sides of the independence debate. While the majority of Snp/independence supporters are not racist it becomes very plain if you follow online debates on the subject that some are.
And there are little things that give us pause for thought. When we have a party that wants to break from the UK, yet also wants to join the EU, is prepared to take diktats from Brussels, but not from Westminster, it is difficult not to conclude that there is antienglish feeling involved.
Most would admit, too, that there is that in the Scottish psyche that revels in English defeat.
And is it not just a tad sinister that it was considered OK for a business to purvey ‘Anyone but England’ T-shirts at the time of the last World Cup finals?
In a recent bout of windbaggery Alex Salmond accused the Scottish media of bias and referred to it as the ‘Yoon’ media (this being a phonetic shorthand for Unionist), thus taking the debate to the level xenophobic slur – and adding a term to a long list of other words intended to cause offence and imply ‘inferior otherness’: Kike, Yid, Spic, Wop, Frog, Gook, Nip, Mick, etc.
However, while the SNP should not be accused of racism it can not escape the charge of being divisive. Like Trump it seeks to build a wall – symbolically speaking – between Scotland and its southern neighbour.
And what is worse, its obsession with independence continues to stoke the flames of strife and discord, and has bitterly divided the country against itself. Nicola Sturgeon commented that Mayor Khan had suggested that nationalism and racism are linked. Is Ms Sturgeon suggesting they are not? Or just not in Scotland?
As a Northern Irish hillwalker, I frequently holiday in Scotland with English friends. I have witnessed Scottish bar staff demonstrate anti-english racism.
I’m also aware many of my English friends prefer me to go to the bar. Actual and perceived anti-english racism is a reality in Scotland, however much Ms Sturgeon protests.
Like Donald Trump Ms Sturgeon has a responsibility to consider where her actions lead, rather than attack the messenger.
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