FORMER first minister Humza Yousaf slammed Labour’s immigration crackdowns and the rise of Reform UK in a speech in Glasgow on Saturday.
Speaking at the Stand Up To Racism “Stop Reform 2026” summit in The Boardwalk, Glasgow, Yousaf stressed the need to mobilise against growing far-right rhetoric, emboldened by Reform and Keir Starmer’s language regarding immigration, whilst highlighting the contributions made to Scotland by migrants over several decades.
Yousaf criticised Starmer's language in a speech which drew comparisons to Enoch Powell, saying: "Let me be absolutely clear, Prime Minister: Scotland is not an island of strangers.
"We are a nation that is proud of its many cultures, many languages, many threads. That tartan, each colour, each strand is different, but woven together to something strong, something beautiful, that we are proud of in Scotland."
The Glasgow Pollok MSP also spoke at length about the contributions from and importance of migrants in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“This country could not survive without immigrants. This continent requires immigration if we are to prosper", he said.
“I ask you, in the 1960s, who drove the buses that kept this city moving? Immigrants. Who kept the factories running when there was labour shortages, like my grandfather, who worked in the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Clydebank?
“It’s immigrants today, when our loved ones need care, be that in the NHS or social care system — who is there, propping up our vital public services? Immigrants.
“When the crops need picking, the parcels need delivering, children need teaching, who's ready and willing to put in the hard graft? Immigrants.”
The SNP MSP went on to “bust myths” peddled by anti-immigration rhetoric, noting the significant economic contributions made by migrants through taxes and job creation, as well as highlighting failures of the Tory government in replacing social housing lost through Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme.
He added: “Successive UK governments did that through austerity, through awful financial mismanagement, like Trussonomics, through a lack of political courage.
“So let's bust another myth while we're here: migrants aren't taking your jobs. Migrants are creating your jobs.”
Yousaf also criticised Nigel Farage’s recent attacks on Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, stating that whilst their political views differ, Sarwar “loves Scotland infinitely more than Nigel Farage”.
“Scotland, I am afraid, is not immune to the rise of populism, and next Thursday’s by-election in Hamilton will be a key moment, where I hope, the good people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will roundly reject the politics of racial division.
“We need to wake up to the fact that Farage’s Reform are gaining support. Those of us who are progressive, and believe in inclusive values, need to organise, mobilise and most importantly articulate an alternative vision to what Farage is offering.
“We need to articulate a vision rooted in hope, that is bold, radical and promises to make the lives of the majority better.
“If we do that, then we can stop the rise of the far-right. If not, well, the alternative does not bear thinking about.”
Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar also gave a speech at the summit, where he criticised First Minister John Swinney and Police Scotland’s handling of the recent Kneecap controversies, which saw the Irish rap trio axed from the TRNSMT lineup.
Anwar said: “A message also for John Swinney and Police Scotland over Kneecap: mind your own business.
“Don’t tell us what we can listen to. You stopped Kneecap, while only days earlier the police protected fascists on our streets.
“You are punishing Kneecap for speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, but when will you stop the arms trade? When will you hold the politicians who armed the genocide accountable?”
