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London Mayor Sadiq Khan 'not accusing SNP of being racists' London Mayor Sadiq Khan 'not accusing SNP of being racists'
(35 minutes later)
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was not accusing the SNP of being racists or bigots.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was not accusing the SNP of being racists or bigots.
He was under pressure to clarify the tweeted extracts of his Scottish Labour conference speech in which he attacked "narrow nationalist parties".He was under pressure to clarify the tweeted extracts of his Scottish Labour conference speech in which he attacked "narrow nationalist parties".
Mr Khan told BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor that "now was the time to come together" in the face of Brexit and the US presidency of Trump.Mr Khan told BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor that "now was the time to come together" in the face of Brexit and the US presidency of Trump.
He made his speech ahead of Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's address.He made his speech ahead of Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's address.
She is expected to pledge that she will work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum. Mr Khan's tweeted extracts from his speech prompted strong reaction on social media including a response from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who described his intervention as "spectacularly ill-judged".
The MSP will also argue that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first". She tweeted: "It is an insult to all those Scots who support independence for reasons of inclusion & social justice - the antithesis of what he says."
Before making his conference speech, Mr Khan told the BBC: "Of course I am not saying that the SNP are racists or bigots. Before making his conference speech, Mr Khan was asked about his comments by BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor and said: "Of course I am not saying that the SNP are racists or bigots.
"What I am saying is that the world is increasingly divided by Brexit result and the election of President Trump, with the rise of populist and narrow nationalist parties across the world, now is the time to come together, now is the time for unity, not a time for division or isolation.""What I am saying is that the world is increasingly divided by Brexit result and the election of President Trump, with the rise of populist and narrow nationalist parties across the world, now is the time to come together, now is the time for unity, not a time for division or isolation."
Mr Khan had earlier tweeted an extract from his speech. 'Time to build unity'
Promoted by the words "what I'll be saying to @scottishlabour today", the politician highlighted: "The world is becoming an increasingly turbulent and divided place. Earlier, in a tweet promoted by the words "what I'll be saying to @scottishlabour today", the politician highlighted: "The world is becoming an increasingly turbulent and divided place.
"We've seen Brexit, President Trump elected in the United States and the rise of right-wing populist and narrow nationalist parties around the world. It's up to us - whether in Scotland or in London - to fight this trend."We've seen Brexit, President Trump elected in the United States and the rise of right-wing populist and narrow nationalist parties around the world. It's up to us - whether in Scotland or in London - to fight this trend.
"The last thing we need now is to pit different parts of our country or sections of our society against each other - or to further fuel division or seek separation.""The last thing we need now is to pit different parts of our country or sections of our society against each other - or to further fuel division or seek separation."
'Time to build unity'
His went on to say: "There's no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of whether we're English or Scottish and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion.His went on to say: "There's no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of whether we're English or Scottish and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion.
"The antidote to Brexit and the rise of the eight-wing populist parties is not to run away, break away or push our neighbours away. It's to lead in a different direction - the right direction."The antidote to Brexit and the rise of the eight-wing populist parties is not to run away, break away or push our neighbours away. It's to lead in a different direction - the right direction.
"Now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed.""Now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed."
Mr Khan's tweet prompted strong reaction on social media including a response from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Meanwhile, the Scottish Labour leader Ms Dugdale was expected to pledge that she will work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum.
The SNP leader said she was a "big admirer" of Mr Khan but she added that his intervention had been "spectacularly ill-judged". During her keynote speech, the MSP will also argue that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first".