Coronavirus outbreak is no excuse for anti-English sentiment in Scotland at the border or anywhere else -- Willie Rennie MSP

Efforts to control Covid-19 in no way justify xenophobia against people from England, writes Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie

An official sign on the border welcomes people to Scotland, as an unofficial one strikes a rather different tone (Picture: Colin D Fisher/SWNS)

I am alarmed that the coronavirus outbreak is providing false respectability to anti-English sentiment in Scotland. The images of self-proclaimed patriots at the border instructing English people to go home – screaming “f*** off we’re shut” – were pathetic and disgusting.

That they weren’t insulting people on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route or at the ferryport in Orkney shows they are more focussed on English people than the virus.

The problem goes beyond those small numbers on the border. A recent opinion poll found 54 per cent of SNP voters don’t want English tourists to be able to cross the border. It should shame us all that such a view is so widespread in our country which prides itself on its tolerance and openness.

A man of the Sikh faith from England living in Scotland told me only this week that he rarely experiences discrimination based on the colour of his skin. It is when he opens his mouth that he hears and feels the discrimination. I was angry and ashamed.

He is just one of thousands of English people who live here, work here, have brought up their families here. It is their home as much as mine. Tens of thousands of people from England spend their holidays here, they spend their money and respect our people and our land. They are welcome here and everyone in Scotland should make that clear.

There has always been an unacceptable level of anti-Englishness in Scotland and it goes well beyond banter with generalised and offensive characterisations, such as dominant, greedy and arrogant, ignorantly applied. That it is widespread is shameful, that it is often tolerated is a disgrace.

I am sure Ian Blackford regrets not taking a robust approach when he gave tacit approval of the border patriots’ insults by claiming that “for some folk perhaps it needs to be blunt before they get it”. As leader of the SNP at Westminster, he is in a position of responsibility. Every time he speaks, his followers on Twitter and beyond pay heed. Instead of condoning such actions, he should be condemning it.

‘Stream of incoming infections’

The SNP Government has a special responsibility to combat anti-English sentiment which is why I was pleased that Humza Yousaf took a different view from Ian Blackford and condemned the actions on the border. Humza has experienced discrimination and has spoken powerfully against it so his contribution was equally powerful.

It is why it was disappointing that last weekend Professor Devi Sridhar, an adviser to the Scottish Government, entered the debate when she wrote in the New York Times that Scotland faced a “stream of incoming infections” from south of the border and went onto claim that nothing could be done because we were part of the United Kingdom.

She was wrong on both fronts – Scotland does have the ability through health protection powers, and she did not cite her evidence to justify the claim of a stream of infections. It was unhelpful and especially so in the context of recent remarks about the border.

Millions of people in the rest of the United Kingdom have sacrificed their own personal freedoms to protect their neighbours from the virus, just like millions in Scotland. Many have lost loved ones to the virus, just like in Scotland. Just like here in Scotland, they will be desperate to limit the risk of a second wave or more localised outbreaks. The idea that they are careless, have all been ignoring the measures throughout the lockdown and are the biggest danger to Scotland is just false.

Virus is blind to nationality

Tourism businesses are reporting cancelled holidays and bookings from people in England. I have had reports from my own constituency about people from England concerned that the border may be closed by the Scottish Government and that they may not be welcome here. The economic damage is significant, but there is even greater damage to our good relations with our neighbours.

We do need to stand ready to impose all the measures that are necessary to stop the spread of the virus. Whilst I favour restrictions on movement to suppress the virus, I only support them based on the science.

The virus does not respect nationality, race or religion – it is blind when it strikes. It’s why I support a cautious approach. It’s why I supported the measures in Aberdeen and in Lanarkshire. It is why I supported the advice, in concert with Boris Johnson, that people should not travel to the Manchester area when they had an outbreak and lockdown measures were re-imposed. It is why I support the gradual easing of the lockdown measures to keep people safe.

What I will not support are the sort of crude, generic restrictions at the border that have been proposed by some but are simply not based on scientific evidence.

People can be afraid in times of economic and health crises. That is natural. But it is the role of political leaders to set the tone.

The attempt to misuse science to give anti-English sentiment a cover of respectability is something we must do everything we can to oppose.

We must stand up and speak out loudly for understanding and empathy within our communities as well as good relations between the people across the United Kingdom, for respect for us all, and for partnership to defeat this deadly virus.

Willie Rennie is leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats and MSP for North East Fife

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