"Racist" protesters at the Scottish-English border were "inspired by comments by SNP politicians", a Tory MP has claimed.

The comments by John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) prompted heated exchanges in the Commons as SNP MPs rushed to condemn "anti-Englishness".

Speaking during an SNP Opposition day debate, Mr Lamont branded the protests "totally unacceptable" and also claimed the SNP "will use any means to push for their

John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) prompted heated exchanges in the Commons as SNP MPs rushed to condemn 'anti-Englishness'

independence obsession".

He said: "We had the horrific scenes on the Scottish-English border in my constituency, on the A1 north of Berwick, of nationalist protesters shouting, and I quote, 'stay the F out' at

English people travelling into Scotland.

"Now these racist protesters have admitted taking inspiration from the division stoked by the SNP politicians, they were inspired by comments by SNP politicians, and one of the

protesters has been pictured with Nicola Sturgeon (and other senior SNP figures)."

Responding in an intervention, the SNP's Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) said: "(He) accuses effectively this bench of stoking racism. The SNP condemns unreservedly any kind of

anti-Englishness and any kind of racism directed at people from south of the border."

Mr Lamont said: "The completely unacceptable behaviour towards our neighbours and friends and family members trying to cross the border between Scotland and England,

coming into my constituency to work, to see family members, to visit friends, and nationalist protesters with yes banners were shouting abuse at them - totally unacceptable."

The SNP's Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) said the "allegations" were "hysterical".

'Racist' protesters at border were 'inspired by SNP politician's comments', says Tory MP

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