Humza Yousaf, the former first minister of Scotland, has revealed the recent days of violent riots have left him unsure whether his family has a future in the UK.
Mr Yousaf – the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party when he became SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister in March 2023 – described the past week of unrest as “utterly horrendous”.
Violent disorder has taken place in cities across England and in Northern Ireland following the killings of three young girls in Southport last week.
The unrest has been fuelled by misinformation online relating to the attacker.
Police forces across the country are braced for further disturbances, with reports of at least 30 more gatherings due to take place on Wednesday evening.
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Disorder in Belfast. Pic: Sky News
A car after it was set on fire by rioters in Middlesbrough on Sunday. Pic: PA
Speaking to The News Agents podcast, Mr Yousaf said: “I’m about as Scottish as they come.
“Born in Scotland, raised in Scotland, educated in Scotland, just welcomed my third child here in Scotland, was the leader of the Scottish government for just over a year, leader of the Scottish National Party.
“You cut me open, I’m as about as Scottish as you come.
“But the truth of the matter is, I don’t know whether the future for me and my wife and my three children is going to be here in Scotland or the United Kingdom, or indeed in Europe and the West, because I have for some time really worried about the rise of Islamophobia.”
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Mr Yousaf, who resigned as first minister in May, said the rise of the far-right was “driven by Islamophobia in Europe, the UK and the West”.
He said rioters were “going after people who are black, who are Asian, who are Muslim, and that, again, comes back to some of the language that’s been used far too often in our politics about people not adopting our values”.
Mr Yousaf, the MSP for Glasgow Pollok, said he has no idea where his family would go, adding that “Scotland is the country I love”.
He said: “I don’t want to go, let me just make that abundantly clear.”
Mr Yousaf said Scotland is not immune from racism or Islamophobia, but added the UK has a “pretty positive story to tell on multiculturalism”.
He cited his own turn as first minister, as well as Rishi Sunak – a British Hindu prime minister, and Sadiq Khan – Muslim mayor of London.
Mr Yousaf added: “So, we actually have a strong history and heritage of multiculturalism over the years, but that is quite literally, actually in some parts of the UK, going up in flames.”
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Police braced for more unrest
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the violence and has vowed to do “whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice”.
First Minister John Swinney met with members of Scotland’s Muslim community at Edinburgh Central Mosque earlier this week.
He branded the violence across other parts of the UK as “completely unacceptable” and said it would not be tolerated in Scotland.
The first minister added: “There is no place in Scotland for hatred of any kind, and each of us has a responsibility to confront racism and religious prejudice wherever and whenever it appears.
“People will always try to divide us – and it is imperative in these moments that we come together even stronger to stand defiant.”
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First Minister John Swinney at Edinburgh Central Mosque on Monday. Pic: PA
Police Scotland said it is providing reassurance to communities through enhanced patrols and direct engagement.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie added: “We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.
“We are aware of a number of planned protests, and counter-protests, over the coming weeks, which will be policed appropriately.”