Nigel Farage attacks SNP after protesters disrupt pro-Brexit rally in Glasgow
Nigel Farage has accused the SNP of shutting down political debate in Scotland after a pro-Brexit rally was disrupted by protesters.
Nigel Farage has accused the SNP of shutting down political debate in Scotland after a pro-Brexit rally was disrupted by protesters.
The Ukip leader attacked the nationalists as "little more than European regionalists'' and called on supporters to "wipe the smirk off the face of the Edinburgh political establishment'' in the referendum on June 23.
A group of around 20 people staged a vocal protest outside the Grassroots Out rally at Glasgow University, with several later ejected from the hall after shouting anti-Ukip slogans before Mr Farage was due to speak.
Mr Farage, who earlier helped to launch Ukip's manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election, has faced protests on previous visits to Scotland, including one occasion in 2013 when he was forced to take refuge in an Edinburgh pub.
He told those attending the rally: "It's great to see the usual welcoming reception committee outside. But it's important to understand why. It's important to understand what's been going on in Scottish politics.
"There has been a deliberate attempt by the so-called nationalists to close down genuine, open proper political debate in this country.''
But one protester Joshua Brown said those gathered were from a coalition of different anti-racist groups, including the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees and Stand up to Racism.
He said: "It's not about one political party or another, and it's not even about the European referendum, it's about standing up against racism, standing up against xenophobia and standing up against misogyny, sexism and all of the terrible things that Ukip represents.''
In his speech Mr Farage continued to attack the "complete and utter myth that the SNP stand for independence''.
He said: "What the SNP, what Scottish nationalism as it dares to call itself, what they stand for, what they want to do is to separate from the UK but to be a full member of the European Union. They are not Scottish nationalists, they are not for independence. They are little more than European regionalists and that must be exposed.
"The word independence we must take away from the SNP and the Scottish nationalists. Let us pick up that word independence. We are the people campaigning for the independence of the UK.''
Mr Farage added: "We've been told for the last few years that Scotland is different to the rest of the United Kingdom. But actually the fact is we've never had the debate in Scotland because the parties in Holyrood are all in hock to the European project.
"Let's have that debate. Let us wipe the smirk off the face of the Edinburgh political establishment. Let's stun them in this referendum on June 23.''
The Ukip leader also urged attendees at the rally to send back the UK Government's pro-EU leaflets that will be sent to millions of homes from next week.
He said: "My suggestion is we think back to that old Elvis Presley hit and we return to sender. Send it back to Downing Street. I hope they get millions sent back to Downing Street.''
The leaflet was also criticised by Conservative MP and former defence secretary Liam Fox, who said: ÂŁ9.2 million of hard-working taxpayers money for the new and the ultimate dodgy dossier in our country.''
He added: "Guess which word they didn't have the nerve to put on the front of the leaflet? Reformed doesn't appear there at all. Do you know why? Because there is no reformed European Union.''