Glasgow witnessed tense clashes on Saturday afternoon as anti-immigration protesters faced off against anti-racist counter-demonstrators, just a week after London hosted the largest far-right rally in decades.
The statue of Donald Dewar, Scotland’s first First Minister and a central figure in the creation of the Scottish Parliament, was draped with union flags carrying slogans such as *Stop the boats* and *Unite the kingdom*.
Meanwhile, Buchanan Street, one of Glasgow’s busiest shopping streets, became the stage for rival demonstrations. Anti-racism and solidarity groups joined forces with trade unions and Palestinian activists, holding banners with messages like *Bairns not bigots* and *Aye welcome refugees*.
By early afternoon, hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered at the steps of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for a so-called “unity rally”, initially promoted by podcaster John Watt. Watt later withdrew, citing “unforeseen circumstances”, and other groups, including Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures, mobilised supporters to ensure a strong turnout.
A heavy police presence was deployed as tensions escalated. The “unity” protesters were hemmed in at the top of Buchanan Street, while a larger group of counter-protesters positioned themselves further down. Anti-racist campaigners drowned out speeches with chants of *shame on you* and loud pop music from their sound system, featuring Abba and Chappell Roan.
Three women attending the anti-immigration rally held up a banner of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah two weeks ago. One, nurse Laura Dunsmore, insisted the demonstration was about more than immigration: “It’s about the state of the country, the state of the world. You can’t access healthcare, our streets are crumbling. We can’t vote our way out of this. We need change at a higher level.”
On the other side of the street, counter-protesters danced to music in a carnival-like atmosphere. Cat, a software technician from Glasgow’s Southside, carried a placard reading *This mum welcomes refugees*. She explained: “As a woman and a mum I’m not worried about asylum seekers. I’m far more worried about those guys over there.”
Police were forced to intervene when pushing and shoving broke out on the fringes of the demonstrations, briefly disrupting shoppers and tourists in the city centre.
By 3pm, the “unity rally” declared its protest a success and began dispersing, while many counter-protesters stayed behind, continuing to sing and dance.
The events in Glasgow come amid growing political tensions in Scotland over immigration. The Saltire has increasingly become a symbol contested between nationalist and anti-immigration groups, echoing the far-right use of the St George’s Cross in England.
Polling suggests Reform UK is now running neck and neck with Scottish Labour ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections, although both remain behind the SNP. Immigration has emerged as a top concern for Scottish voters, coinciding with a refugee housing crisis in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.
