George Galloway: former-MP’s 'race-baiting' Twitter post explained - and why Humza Yousaf responded with cat joke

Humza Yousaf made reference to George Galloway’s appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in his response
George Galloway was criticised for saying he was more Scottish than Humza Yousaf (Getty Images)George Galloway was criticised for saying he was more Scottish than Humza Yousaf (Getty Images)
George Galloway was criticised for saying he was more Scottish than Humza Yousaf (Getty Images)

George Galloway has been criticised for uploading a “race-baiting” post to Twitter.

The former Labour Party MP drew criticism on social media after he posted a message on Twitter direct at Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.

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In the post Mr Galloway, an outspoken opponent of Scottish Indepedence, claimed that Yousuf was “nor a Celt like me”, and “not more Scottish than me”.

Yousuf responded to the comments, labelling them as “race-baiting”.

Galloway fiercely denied allegations of racism.

What did George Galloway say?

Mr Galloway is set to run at the 2021 Holyrood election for the anti-SNP All 4 Unity party.

He took aim at the MSP for Glasgow Pollok in a post on March 17, tweeting: “Well #Humza you’re not more Scottish than me. You’re not a Celt like me. You’re not working-class like me.

“You didn’t go to a state school like me. You’re not more socialist than me. So stop pretending. You’re a poseur. @Alliance4Unity".

Much of the Scottish population is descended from Spanish Celtic tribes who began arriving in 7,000 years ago.

Yousaf’s father was born in Pakistan, while his mother is of South-Asian descent.

Galloway has been criticised for implying that he is more Scottish due to his race.

How did Humza Yousaf reply?

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Humza Yousaf, who in July 2020 was targeted with 6,000 racist messages in a single week following a Black Lives Matter speech, replied to Galloway making a nod to the former MP’s appearance in Celebrity Big Brother in 2006 when he imitated a cat by crawling on all fours, purring and pretending to lick cream from the hands of actress Rula Lenska as part of a task, while she stroked his head.

The Justice Secretary tweeted: “You haven’t managed to ever get elected to the Scottish Parliament like me.

“And I suspect the voters of Scotland will show you the cat flap again come May 6.

“When you are shown the door, please take your race-baiting ‘You’re not a Celt like me’ mince with you.”

He added: “Thank you for all the solidarity folks, Galloway isn’t the first race-baiter nor the last that I will encounter.

“The people of Scotland will give him the boot, let’s not give the desperate attention seeker any more of the oxygen of publicity he craves. ”

How did Galloway deny allegations of racism?

Mr Galloway replied to Yousaf’s allegation, stating: “As the father of five mixed-race children I treat #Humza’s accusation that I’m a racist with contempt.”

He has two sons with former researcher Rima Husseini and two daughters and a son with Putri Gayatri Pertiwi.

Galloway later tweeted: “Being called a racist by the SNP is like being told to sit up straight by the Hunchback of Notre Dame”.