Claims of Anglophobia as people south of the border reportedly made to feel increasingly unwelcome in wake of independence row
Source - Daily Telegraph - 16/03/22
A Scottish council is to consider targeting anti-English racism following claims that it has become more prevalent than prejudice against Muslims.
Moray Council this week voted to adopt an official definition of Islamophobia, in a move it said would help root out discrimination, harrassment and victimisation of members of the faith.
Claire Feaver, a Tory councillor, backed the move - but said the council should also recognise anti-English behaviour, which she said was a far more common problem within its boundaries.
"I think we also need to recognise along with Islamophobia, Anglophobia," she told a meeting of the council’s corporate committee.
"As a minority group in Moray, I get more emails and telephone calls from people who’ve suffered from Anglophobia and I’d like to flag that up.
"Anglophobia is there all the time, numerous constituents over the last five years have come to me asking what we’re going to do about this."
'Plague carriers'
There have been claims that English people have been made to feel increasingly unwelcome in Scotland over recent years, as a debate rages on about Scottish independence.
The SNP is quick to publicly condemn any anti-English prejudice, but leading figures within the party have been accused of sending out dog-whistles which fuel the problem.
During the first months of the pandemic, independence supporters protested on the border and branded those crossing "plague carriers" after Nicola Sturgeon made unverified comparisons about Covid-19 rates.
Donald Gatt, another Moray councillor, backed Ms Feaver’s call and revealed that he had been targeted with anti-English abuse, despite being a Scotsman.
"Any victimisation of people because of their race or their religion or their colour is to be condemned utterly," he said.
"Sadly, I do have to report about two years ago I myself was subject to it. I was told to go back to England and I was born in Perth, so I’m as Scottish as anybody else.
"I would welcome any other moves to eradicate this hatred we have in society whether it’s Islamophobia, Anglophobia or anti-Semitism."
Moray, a rural part of north-east Scotland, is home to a major air base, RAF Lossiemouth, and Kinloss Barracks. According to the last census, 98.9 per cent of the county’s residents were white.
Aaron McLean, an SNP councillor, said the two military bases had contributed to "a very diverse community" in Moray and said any anti-English abuse was "completely unacceptable".
"Those people have loved Moray, decided to stay here and are now part of our community, friends and part of our family in my own instance," he said.
The widely-used definition of Islamophobia adopted by Moray was set out by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims and has been endorsed by all Holyrood parties.
'Particularly insidious form of abuse'
Graham Leadbetter, the Moray Council leader, said he did not want to change the wording to incorporate prejudice against English people "on the hoof", but was open to considering the issue separately.
He said: "We would all agree any form of discrimination is completely unacceptable. It’s a particularly insidious form of abuse.
"But we are at risk if we randomly add bits to this motion, because there are many areas it could cover.
"For example, we could add gypsy traveller discrimination, which is significant and widespread.
"I’m not averse to having that (Anglophobia) incorporated into the council’s policies, I just think it needs to be done correctly."
An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP believes in equality for all and we’re working hard to deliver a truly inclusive society. All forms of discrimination and prejudice are completely unacceptable."
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