Spirit of Kenmure Street should reflect Scotland’s politics
On the anniversary of the Kenmure Street protest in Glasgow, we need to take a stand against Westminster’s divisive politics, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie.
Four years ago, hundreds of people united on a Glasgow South Side street in peaceful protest that resulted in two men being freed from the Immigration Enforcement van they were detained in. It was one of the most prominent times in recent history that communities across Glasgow banded together in solidarity to challenge the cruel practice of dawn raids by the UK Home Office.
The Scottish Greens are calling for the powers of immigration to be devolved to Scotland. Currently Westminster controls immigration policies without regard to the views of the devolved nations.
Calls for solidarity and empathy come from Mr Harvie just one day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave a speech on immigration reform which has been sharply criticised, including by members of his own party.
Mr Harvie said:
“Now more than ever before we need to stand up and take action to support people living in Scotland. For decades, Scotland’s people and its governments have sought a more open and welcoming approach to immigration.
“What we saw on Kenmure Street four years ago was a united community; peacefully rallying together to protect and defend their neighbours from detention by the UK Home Office. Four years later, Keir Starmer’s speech on immigration reform is a vilification of people entering the UK to live, work, and sometimes seek refuge here, and it sets a dangerous political tone that we should never echo here in Scotland.
“With the rise of reactionary, far-right political views, and parties like Reform that only seek to sow division and hatred, we must support those most at risk of being scapegoated.
“The Home Office operations happening within Scotland are based on Westminster’s decisions - cruel decisions that I believe the vast majority of people in Scotland rightfully object to, including the Scottish Greens.
“As a self-governing, independent country, we would hold the keys to creating a fairer, better Scotland for everyone, but we shouldn’t have to wait. We should be able to protect the human rights of people living in Scotland now.
“We can be the Scotland of Kenmure Street, not Downing Street.
“We will always stand up for people living in Scotland, no matter if they are born here or are choosing to build their lives in our country. We can and should always strive to be a welcoming, supportive nation that values the rich history and knowledge that migrants bring.”