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English told to ‘get out of Scotland’ by protesters at Glasgow Central station

The protesters held up a banner that read 'England Get Out of Scotland' (Picture: SWNS)
The protesters held up a banner that read 'England Get Out of Scotland' (Picture: SWNS)

Nationalists unveiled a banner reading “England Get Out of Scotland” at one of the country's busiest railway stations.

The message was shown at Glasgow Central on Friday by activists who object to the Scottish border remaining open after coronavirus cases increased in the north of England.

The same activists have previously targeted the border at Berwick, where motorists were shocked to see people wearing Saltaire face masks demanding the border was closed.

However, the campaigners, from Action Scotland, insist they are not motivated by racism or xenophobia but believe closed borders could eliminate the virus in Scotland by the end of August.

Police were called to Glasgow Central station (Picture: SWNS)
Police were called to Glasgow Central station (Picture: SWNS)

Action Scotland’s Sean Clerkin, 59, said: "In all the regions of England it is clear that the R rate of reproduction is either just below 1, or is on 1 and parts of the northwest of England including West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and East Lancashire have been put into lockdown.

"In Scotland it is between 0.7 and 0.9

"All we are saying is anyone of any nationality who is planning to travel from England for non-essential reasons, please do not.”

The campaigners insist they are not motivated by racism or xenophobia (Picture: SWNS)
The campaigners insist they are not motivated by racism or xenophobia (Picture: SWNS)

Clerkin added: "We are calling on the Scottish Government to implement quarantine measures just like with Spain.

"The banner is just to get attention, we want to protect everyone in Scotland whatever their nationality.”

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has not ruled out a border closure with England or imposing restrictions on those who travel from regions with high infection rates.

This week she urged people living in Scotland not to travel to areas in northern England that had been put under new lockdown measures.

Police were called to the protest.

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