Anger as UK border police bar visitors from Scotland

THE UK Border Agency has been accused of embarrassing Scotland after more than 60 Pakistanis, including members of a pipe band and a trade delegation, were banned from entering the country.

Business talks in Glasgow had to be abandoned after the visitors from the district government in Lahore, which is twinned with the city, had their visa applications rejected.

Hanzala Malik, executive member for Glasgow City Council's international affairs group, said members of the pipe band – due to perform at the World Pipe Band Championships on Saturday – were refused entry.

Last night, he described the move as "ludicrous" and accused immigration authorities of hampering business and embarrassing the council.

He said: "These business-people are phenomenally important to us when it comes to trade. For them to be refused entry after we invited them is hugely embarrassing.

"We need to be trading with people to safeguard our businesses and we can't do that if our Foreign Office is saying it's unsafe to go to certain parts of the world and refusing people entry here."

Mr Malik said around 65 people from the three groups had their applications refused, though the situation made no sense because many of them had visited Glasgow before.

The deputy mayor of Lahore was the only member of the delegation to be allowed entry.

Thousands of pipers and drummers have travelled from across the globe to attend the annual World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.

Ian Embelton, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said he was disappointed that the Patiala Pipe Band, from Lahore, had been banned from coming.

He said: "They are a very colourful band and they have supported the world championships ... they have visited for the last four years."

Anne McLaughlin, the SNP MSP for Glasgow, called on the authorities to reverse their decision. She said the band encountered similar problems last year. "For this to happen once was bad enough; to repeat it this year is a disgrace," she said. "I will be in touch with the Borders Agency to get this decision reversed.

"This kind of decision gives Scotland a bad name and shows up the shambles within the UK Border Agency."

The competition at Glasgow Green is said to be worth an estimated 7 million to the city economy and attracts 220 bands from around the world. This year organisers are expecting 50,000 visitors.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said the onus is on visa applicants to supply the necessary evidence in support of their applications.

"All applications for entry clearance are considered on their individual merits, taking into account all evidence submitted and in accordance with the immigration rules."