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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 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.
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". Mr Khan's tweets before the 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".
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." Using social media, she said: "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 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. Before taking to the conference stage, Mr Khan was interviewed by the BBC. He 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."
'Time to build unity''Time to build unity'
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. When he made his speech, he reiterated that he was not calling the SNP racists or bigots.
"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. Mr Khan said: "Now's not the time to play on people's fears.
"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." "Or to pit one part of our country - or one section of our society - against each other.
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. "In that respect 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. "Now of course I'm not saying that nationalists are somehow racist or bigoted - but now, more than ever - what we don't need is more division and separation.
"Now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed." "Conference, now's the time to build unity. To build a more United Kingdom. To ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. To build an open and more inclusive economy."
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. What Sadiq Khan tweeted ahead of his speech
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".