A FAR-RIGHT rally which took place in Scotland last weekend should spark a reassessment of the UK’s domestic terror threat, an MSP has told the Home Secretary.
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman has written to Suella Braverman to express her concern about an event which took place in the Renfrewshire town of Erskine on February 5.
The rally was organised by Patriotic Alternative, a white nationalist group, and was called in opposition to the use of a hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.
The group campaigns for a complete halt to all immigration except in “extraordinary circumstances”.
Indeed, it claims that refugee applications should only be accepted from “those descended from European nations or from other parts of the world who have a shared ethnic and cultural background – a notable example being white South Africans.”
It has previously been criticised for displaying a “white lives matter” banner at the peak of Ben Nevis.
In a letter sent to Braverman, Chapman calls for a “comprehensive reassessment” of the threat posed by extremists in the UK.
I've written to the Home Secretary regarding the threat posed by domestic extremism. The racist and fascist rally in Erskine on Sunday was disgusting, but I was heartened by those who stood up in solidarity with asylum seekers and against racism. That is the Scotland we want. pic.twitter.com/czX7ap0rHD
— Maggie Chapman MSP (@MaggieChapman) February 9, 2023
She said: “Domestic far-right extremism is an increasing threat to the safety and stability of our communities and society.
“Indeed, 45% of Home Office referrals are related to right-wing extremism. This proportion more than doubled from 22% in 2017/18 while the proportion of referrals related to Islamist extremism fell from 37% in 2017/18 to 13% in 2020/21.
“The UK Government’s Home Office-run counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, aims to ‘tackle the cause of radicalisation’ via early intervention. It also exists to ‘enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate’.
“It is clear that a comprehensive reassessment of domestic violent extremism in the UK, including far-right domestic terrorism, is required.”
A Home Office spokesperson told The National:
“The Government takes the threat from all forms of terrorism seriously, including the warped ideology of the extreme right-wing.
"We are committed to tackling those who spread views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others.”
It comes after a man was convicted of an offence under the Terrorism Act in the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.
James Farrell, a 32-year-old from the Pollok area of Glasgow, pled guilty to using an online messaging platform to share information on how to assemble a homemade automatic weapon.
He also admitted to expressing anti-Semitic, racist and neo-Nazi views.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, Police Scotland's Head of Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “Farrell not only expressed views which are totally unacceptable in a civilised society but his actions in sharing material of this nature had the potential of significantly endangering the public.
“His conviction is testament to the work of Police Scotland officers and shows the value of working in partnership with our colleagues in Counter Terrorism Policing across the UK. Police Scotland is grateful for the assistance of Counter Terrorism officers from the North East of England, who initiated the investigation which led to Farrell’s activities being uncovered.
“James Farrell’s conviction sends out a clear message that terrorist activities of any nature will not be tolerated and Police Scotland officers will continue to investigate anyone who engages in criminality linked to extreme groups or ideologies.”
