Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar racially abused in Glasgow

A prominent Scottish Labour MSP has described being racially abused while filming a television interview in Glasgow.

Anas Sarwar stood for the leadership of Scottish Labour last year. Picture: John Devlin

Anas Sarwar, the party’s spokesman for health, was speaking with a journalist from Sky’s Asian channels when two men cycled past, with one shouting ‘P**i b*****d’ as he went.

The incident happened last night outside the Crowne Plaza hotel next to the River Clyde.

The MSP tweeted: “Just had someone shout “P**i b*****d” in my face whilst doing an interview on (ironically) racism and Islamophobia.

“Not experienced such blatant in your face racism like that in years. What’s going on in the world?”

Mr Sarwar made a complaint to Police Scotland regarding the incident today.

The MSP had earlier tweeted a Nelson Mandela quote on racism to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of the South African leader: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard shared his support. “I am so sorry to hear this Anas Sarwar,” he said in a tweet.

“On behalf of the entire Scottish Labour Party I want to express our solidarity with you. We must never cease the fight against racism.”