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Nigel Farage and Alex Salmond trade insults in battle of nationalists Nigel Farage and Alex Salmond trade insults in battle of nationalists
(4 months later)
The two most influential political leaders reshaping British politics outside Westminster traded insults after the Ukip leader Nigel Farage labelled Scottish protesters "yobbo, fascist scum" and the SNP leader Alex Salmond responded accusing him of touting "obnoxious" policies.The two most influential political leaders reshaping British politics outside Westminster traded insults after the Ukip leader Nigel Farage labelled Scottish protesters "yobbo, fascist scum" and the SNP leader Alex Salmond responded accusing him of touting "obnoxious" policies.
Farage warned that the protesters who forced him to flee a press conference in Edinburgh and seek police protection, had exposed a "pretty ugly" face of Scottish nationalism that is "akin to fascism".Farage warned that the protesters who forced him to flee a press conference in Edinburgh and seek police protection, had exposed a "pretty ugly" face of Scottish nationalism that is "akin to fascism".
But the SNP's Salmond's fierce response exposed a fissure in British politics, as the Tories and Labour offered some support for Farage as they warned of anti-English feeling in Scotland.But the SNP's Salmond's fierce response exposed a fissure in British politics, as the Tories and Labour offered some support for Farage as they warned of anti-English feeling in Scotland.
Farage claimed the protesters were filled with "total and utter hatred" of the English. The Ukip leader, who challenged Salmond to condemn the protest, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: "The fact that 50 yobbo, fascist scum turn up and aren't prepared to listen to debate I absolutely refuse to believe is representative of Scottish public opinion. It is not. If this is the face of Scottish nationalism, it's a pretty ugly picture. I have heard before that there are some parts of Scottish nationalism that are akin to fascism. Yesterday I saw it face to face."Farage claimed the protesters were filled with "total and utter hatred" of the English. The Ukip leader, who challenged Salmond to condemn the protest, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: "The fact that 50 yobbo, fascist scum turn up and aren't prepared to listen to debate I absolutely refuse to believe is representative of Scottish public opinion. It is not. If this is the face of Scottish nationalism, it's a pretty ugly picture. I have heard before that there are some parts of Scottish nationalism that are akin to fascism. Yesterday I saw it face to face."
But Salmond hit back at Farage telling the BBC: "This is a man who doesn't like getting challenged because when the obnoxious views of his party are put to him then his bubble deflates very quickly and that is what we saw in his panicky interview this morning."But Salmond hit back at Farage telling the BBC: "This is a man who doesn't like getting challenged because when the obnoxious views of his party are put to him then his bubble deflates very quickly and that is what we saw in his panicky interview this morning."
When asked if he condemned the demonstration against Farage, the first minister said: "If there's been any law-breaking – and that's yet to be established – then obviously we condemn that, as we always do in Scotland, but you've got to get things into context. A student demonstration isn't the Dreyfus trial."When asked if he condemned the demonstration against Farage, the first minister said: "If there's been any law-breaking – and that's yet to be established – then obviously we condemn that, as we always do in Scotland, but you've got to get things into context. A student demonstration isn't the Dreyfus trial."
Liam O'Hare, the Radical Independence Edinburgh organiser who took part in the protest, denied his group were fascist. "We're absolutely not. The people who demonstrated were internationalist. We opposed Nigel Farage coming as we believe in a society that welcomes immigrants, that welcomes people from all walks of life, wherever they come from, but doesn't welcome racists like Nigel Farage."Liam O'Hare, the Radical Independence Edinburgh organiser who took part in the protest, denied his group were fascist. "We're absolutely not. The people who demonstrated were internationalist. We opposed Nigel Farage coming as we believe in a society that welcomes immigrants, that welcomes people from all walks of life, wherever they come from, but doesn't welcome racists like Nigel Farage."
The row exposed the geographical limits of Ukip's recent success in the polls. Guy Lodge, a political analyst with the Institute for Public Policy Research, said Ukip was now becoming a magnet for English nationalist discontent with both the EU and with the UK. Recent IPPR polling found that 49% of Ukip voters wanted England to be an independent state and Ukip's recent high rating in the polls is largely a English phenomenon.The row exposed the geographical limits of Ukip's recent success in the polls. Guy Lodge, a political analyst with the Institute for Public Policy Research, said Ukip was now becoming a magnet for English nationalist discontent with both the EU and with the UK. Recent IPPR polling found that 49% of Ukip voters wanted England to be an independent state and Ukip's recent high rating in the polls is largely a English phenomenon.
"One of the reasons Ukip are motoring along within England is that they are tapping into quite a strong sense of English national sentiment," Lodge said."One of the reasons Ukip are motoring along within England is that they are tapping into quite a strong sense of English national sentiment," Lodge said.
Farage's ill-fated trip to Scotland continued with him hanging up on the BBC presenter David Miller, who had suggested Ukip is not part of Scottish political debate and "you know very little of Scotland".Farage's ill-fated trip to Scotland continued with him hanging up on the BBC presenter David Miller, who had suggested Ukip is not part of Scottish political debate and "you know very little of Scotland".
"I'm sensing similar hatred from this line of questioning that I got on the streets yesterday in Edinburgh … Frankly I have had enough of this interview. Goodbye," he said."I'm sensing similar hatred from this line of questioning that I got on the streets yesterday in Edinburgh … Frankly I have had enough of this interview. Goodbye," he said.
As he flew out of Edinburgh, Farage turned his sights more directly on the SNP, saying: "I'm afraid there has been for a long time in Scotland an attempt to shout down and drown out any sort of debate.As he flew out of Edinburgh, Farage turned his sights more directly on the SNP, saying: "I'm afraid there has been for a long time in Scotland an attempt to shout down and drown out any sort of debate.
"And I'm afraid that there are parts of the SNP and parts of the independence movement that are deeply deeply unpleasant. Everybody knows it and nobody dares say it.""And I'm afraid that there are parts of the SNP and parts of the independence movement that are deeply deeply unpleasant. Everybody knows it and nobody dares say it."
The last Tory Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth of Drumlean joined with Labour and George Galloway in saying that the protest Farage faced on a visit to Edinburgh on Thursday had highlighted anti-English feeling in Scotland.The last Tory Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth of Drumlean joined with Labour and George Galloway in saying that the protest Farage faced on a visit to Edinburgh on Thursday had highlighted anti-English feeling in Scotland.
Forsyth said the protest had highlighted an unpleasant side of some Scottish nationalists. He told the Guardian: "There is an element that is not very pleasant. They are called cyber-nats and are a pretty unpleasant and nasty bunch.Forsyth said the protest had highlighted an unpleasant side of some Scottish nationalists. He told the Guardian: "There is an element that is not very pleasant. They are called cyber-nats and are a pretty unpleasant and nasty bunch.
"It is the worst aspects of nationalism – very inward looking and very self satisfied and rather unpleasant. It is anti-English and anti-London. You may not like Nigel Farage's views but he should be able to go to a pub in Edinburgh and talk about them without this kind of thing happening. It is a very bad advertisement for Scotland.""It is the worst aspects of nationalism – very inward looking and very self satisfied and rather unpleasant. It is anti-English and anti-London. You may not like Nigel Farage's views but he should be able to go to a pub in Edinburgh and talk about them without this kind of thing happening. It is a very bad advertisement for Scotland."
George Galloway, who was a Labour MP in Glasgow for 18 years, echoed Forsyth's comments. He told the International Business Times: "I hold no candle for Nigel Farage but if leaders of democratic parties with substantial support are to be driven out of Scotland under police protection, it's not going to be much of an advertisement for visitors and investors."George Galloway, who was a Labour MP in Glasgow for 18 years, echoed Forsyth's comments. He told the International Business Times: "I hold no candle for Nigel Farage but if leaders of democratic parties with substantial support are to be driven out of Scotland under police protection, it's not going to be much of an advertisement for visitors and investors."
"The whole event had a very anti-English character, it was very ugly. The language and behaviour of the protesters and the pathetic response of the police, who couldn't even secure a press event held by the third party of the state, doesn't say much for Scotland if it wishes to become independent. This kind of roughhouse is only justified against fascist leaders, and Farage is definitely not a fascist.""The whole event had a very anti-English character, it was very ugly. The language and behaviour of the protesters and the pathetic response of the police, who couldn't even secure a press event held by the third party of the state, doesn't say much for Scotland if it wishes to become independent. This kind of roughhouse is only justified against fascist leaders, and Farage is definitely not a fascist."
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, the former Labour Scotland minister, said: "There is an element of anti-English sentiment and there is a fairly nasty side to a few on the periphery of the nationalist movement – not in the mainstream. There is a pretty nasty element [in Scottish nationalism] who are exceptionally rude and vitriolic on social networks. But to be fair to Kevin Pringle [SNP strategic communications director] and Nicola Sturgeon [SNP deputy first minister] they have tried to curb them."Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, the former Labour Scotland minister, said: "There is an element of anti-English sentiment and there is a fairly nasty side to a few on the periphery of the nationalist movement – not in the mainstream. There is a pretty nasty element [in Scottish nationalism] who are exceptionally rude and vitriolic on social networks. But to be fair to Kevin Pringle [SNP strategic communications director] and Nicola Sturgeon [SNP deputy first minister] they have tried to curb them."
"If you are not on their [the hardliners'] side then you are unpatriotic. It is: you are with us or you are against Scotland. Maybe Farage has highlighted it to people in London. But Labour people and Conservatives have tried to highlight it in Scotland for some time.""If you are not on their [the hardliners'] side then you are unpatriotic. It is: you are with us or you are against Scotland. Maybe Farage has highlighted it to people in London. But Labour people and Conservatives have tried to highlight it in Scotland for some time."
But Foulkes was highly critical of Farage for failing to prepare for his visit to Scotland. "He didn't help. He came up, went into a pub without getting permission from the publican and held an impromptu press conference. There were students protesting and he dealt with them in a peremptory and unsympathetic manner. He hasn't got a lot of experience in street politics. But he is like a bull in a china shop and has just come into Scottish politics with flat feet and muddied the water."But Foulkes was highly critical of Farage for failing to prepare for his visit to Scotland. "He didn't help. He came up, went into a pub without getting permission from the publican and held an impromptu press conference. There were students protesting and he dealt with them in a peremptory and unsympathetic manner. He hasn't got a lot of experience in street politics. But he is like a bull in a china shop and has just come into Scottish politics with flat feet and muddied the water."
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