No Racism: Refugees Welcome Here

The St Andrew's Day Anti-Racism March and Rally this year has the theme 'No Racism: Refugees Welcome Here.' The rally will take place on Sat 28th Nov, Assemble 10:30am Glasgow Green. Below is a Guest Blog from Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party on the importance of this March.

Nobody could fail to be moved by the humanitarian crisis which continues to unfold. 

The testimony of the men, woman and children who risk everything they have to escape an intolerable situation, is hugely affecting.

The UK is a moral nation and we fulfil our moral responsibilities.

I am proud that we are the first G7 nation to meet its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our economy on aid. I am pleased, too, that the UK is allocating £1 billion in aid and development programmes to help with the Syrian refugee crisis – more than any country bar America. The Prime Minister has also appointed a new Minister for Refugees

It is right too, that our country has offered sanctuary to 20,000 refugees, resettled directly from camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. 

Importantly, this approach balances the need to give shelter, with the need to discourage vulnerable families from making the dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean. 

But simply accepting refugees is not enough. 

We have to support our local communities, too. That is why we will use the foreign aid budget to help councils provide critical services, such as housing. 

The challenge now is to build on our commitments. Those coming here fleeing the worst of circumstances need to feel welcomed.

We must all continue to do our bit to ensure that Scotland’s cultural and racial diversity is seen as one of our nation’s great assets, rather than as a threat. For this diversity is something which makes our country, and, especially, our cities, such incredible places to live and work.

We all have our own part to play in championing this message. 

That’s why it is so important that this STUC No Racism rally - and others like it- continue to take place to ensure we can promote a future without racism. 

The STUC has long shown an admirable commitment to this fight and I stand proudly with them.

Ruth Davidson 

Leader Scottish Conservative Party

Our Future Free from Racism

This has been a momentous year for Scotland. The referendum, the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup – the eyes of the world have been on us like never before.

I never doubted that as a people we would rise to this challenge; that we would do Scotland proud.

And so it has proved. Last year I wrote that the Commonwealth Games would be a key demonstration of the value of progress and I think it’s fair to say that they were the most stirring success and a potent reminder of sport’s power to unite.

These truly were the friendly games – perhaps the friendliest – and Glasgow was abuzz for the duration

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Every country was warmly welcomed, every competitor respected. Around the world, people were treated to a fun, inclusive and tolerant Games.

This image will have been viewed around the globe and its power should not be under-estimated.

The challenge is now to build on this; to promote our shared vision of a future free from racism.

This won’t be easy, but I am up for the fight and it’s clear the STUC is too.

And quite frankly, the message is clear - whether prompted by skin colour, religion or nationality, discrimination is completely unacceptable in modern Scotland.

Yet, while we’ve come far, Scotland’s not there yet. Simply put, we cannot be complacent and we mustn’t ease up.

We still, to our collective shame, have pockets of intolerance here in Scotland and we can’t shy away from this or try to sweep it under the carpet.

That’s why it is so important that rallies like this continue to take place and I am extremely proud to offer this longstanding event my wholehearted support. 

Ruth Davidson

Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party