Section: News Edition: 01 Circulation: 1510824 Date: 08 May 2018 Source: ABC Oct 2016 Page: 18

SNP told to stop ‘myth’ has less racism

SCOTLAND has as big a By Michael Blackley problem with racism as the Scottish Political Editor rest of the UK, according to a damning book which urges known or suspected racial element in Scotland, compared with 1.3 in politicians to face up to the the rest of the UK. scale of the issue. Other research shows that white A higher proportion of the applicants for council jobs are population are murdered for almost three times more likely to be racist reasons than in other successful than ethnic minority parts of the UK, say senior candidates, while 7.1 per cent of all academics – while ethnic minori- white applicants for posts in the ties are much less likely to secure wider public sector went on to be top public sector jobs. appointed, compared with 4.4 per They claim it is a ‘misleading cent of non-white applicants. fantasy’ for pro-independence A chapter of the book by Maureen politicians to claim Scotland has McBride and Minna Liinpaa, also less of a problem with racism and is editors of the book, said: ‘In the ‘culturally different’ to England. post- context, the “no prob- Senior ministers including Nicola lem here” myth in Scotland has Sturgeon have said – in the after- been given a new lease of life.’ Labour MSP Anas Sarwar, chair- man of a cross-party group on tack- ‘Misleading ling Islamophobia, said: ‘We cannot fantasy’ hope to eradicate everyday sexism and homophobia, racism, anti- Semitism and Islamophobia, unless math of the EU referendum – that we acknowledge that it exists. Scotland is an ‘inclusive, welcom- ‘Our task is to make the uncon- ing, outward-looking country’. scious bias conscious, so people can But new book No Problem Here: challenge themselves and then as a Understanding Racism in Scotland country we can aim to defeat preju- suggests this is a ‘myth’. dice in the long-term.’ Neil Davidson, a sociology lecturer Scottish Conservative equalities at University and one of spokesman said: ‘Scot- the editors of the book, said: ‘Move- land has just as many problems ments for devolution and independ- with racism as England does. ence have involved the idea Scot- ‘In a bid to boost its separation land is “culturally” different from cause, the SNP likes to pretend this England, and part of this involves isn’t the case. But that’s a head-in- the Scots being more “welcoming”... the-sand approach.’ these are misleading fantasies. The Scottish Government said: ‘A better Scotland will only be ‘We are resolved to do everything it built by confronting the evil of takes to ensure that Scotland is a racism rather than pretending it place where there is zero tolerance does not exist.’ of racism in any form.’ The book states that between The book will be launched at 2000 and 2013, there were 1.8 mur- Holyrood tomorrow. ders per one million people with a Comment – Page 16 CRAIG BROWN IS AWAY

Ref: 137342104 This digital cutting has been produced under licence by Press Data Ltd from the NLA. Digital reproduction/forwarding is not permitted. No printing of the Cutting or further copies may be made except under licence from the NLA.