Former PM questions Britain’s future after riots

Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said the days of violence had called into question his and his family’s future in Scotland and the UK.

Riots broke out in cities across England and in Northern Ireland over the weekend.

The BBC understands that several groups are planning protests and counter-protests in Scotland in the coming weeks.

Police Scotland said any disturbances would be “quickly identified” and “responded immediately”.

Speaking on the Newsagents podcast, Mr Yousaf said he was “very Scottish” but wasn’t sure whether he could see a future here for his wife and three children.

Mr Pollock, the Glasgow MP, said: “I was born in Scotland, grew up in Scotland, educated in Scotland and have just welcomed my third child into Scotland. I was leader of the Scottish Government for just over a year and leader of the Scottish National Party.”

“If you cut me open you’ll see I am very Scottish, but the truth is I don’t know whether my future, my wife and our three children, will be in Scotland, in England or in Europe or the West.”

He said he has been concerned about rising Islamophobia for some time.

“We are now witnessing, not years but decades, the normalization of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric in political discourse and its most violent manifestations,” he added.

Yousaf will become First Minister in March 2023, becoming the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK political party.

Police responded to violent incidents over the weekend in towns and cities including Rotherham, Middlesbrough and Bolton, while unrest also broke out in Plymouth and Belfast on Monday.

More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest, with 100 charged so far.

The unrest followed the stabbing deaths of three girls in Southport, with the ensuing unrest fuelled by online misinformation about the perpetrator.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, telling ministers: “This was violent disorder and it must be treated as a criminal offence.”

He said the government would take “all necessary measures” to end the unrest.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Scotland Gary Ritchie said he was aware of several protests and counter-protests planned in Scotland in the coming weeks.

He said: “We know violent unrest in other parts of the UK is causing concern and we continue to reassure communities across the country through increased patrols and direct engagement.”

“We will continue to monitor the situation so that any potential outbreaks of violence or unrest in Scotland can be quickly identified and responded to immediately.”

“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and our role is to ensure public safety whilst balancing the rights of protesters who wish to demonstrate peacefully.”

First Minister John Swinney visited Edinburgh Central Mosque yesterday and reassured local residents that they would be “safe”.

Mr Swinney said he had met with police chiefs and received assurances that “comprehensive intelligence gathering across social media is running around the clock” to keep up with any possible incidents in Scotland.

Mr Swinney added: “The events of recent days have caused deep concern in communities across the UK, and Scotland is no exception.”

“I absolutely want to make it clear that this is a welcoming country that brings people together in a cohesive community.”