United front against city march by SDL

Political leaders, trade unions, religious groups and campaigners have called for a march by a far-right group to be banned.

The Scottish Defence League (SDL) has applied to hold a public procession through Glasgow’s streets on 25 February. The group has been branded “neo-Nazis masquerading under the flag of Scotland”.

An open letter by SNP MSP Humza Yousaf calling on Glasgow City Council to refuse permission has been signed by MSPs including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Labour leader Johann Lamont, Tory leader Ruth Davidson, Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie and Green co-convener Patrick Harvie.

Other signatories are human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, the Rev Iain Galloway of the Church of Scotland, Dr Salah Beltagui of the Muslim Council of Scotland and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.

The open letter is backed by the STUC and Unison, Unite Scotland, PCS, FDA and CWU.