Patrick Harvie raises urgent question on home office actions
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie raised the first urgent question of the new parliamentary term today, questioning the Scottish Government on the events surrounding the attempted forced removal of asylum seekers in Pollokshieds on Thursday.
Mr Harvie noted that although control of immigration matters regrettably remains in the hands of UK Ministers there are actions that can be taken in Scotland to support communities to resist the racist home office.
Patrick Harvie said:
“Police Scotland’s priority must be the wellbeing of the victims of the brutal Home Office Immigration regime, as well as those in the local community who decided to peacefully protest.
“It is absolutely awful that people have been forced to take such action to defend their most vulnerable neighbours, but commendable that they did so.
“I regret that the powers over immigration lie in the hands of the institutionally racist UK Home Office, and I believe the day when Scotland is able to build our own humane asylum system cannot come soon enough.
“One thing the Scottish Government does have the power to do right now is to support communities on the front line. Organised resistance like we seen yesterday doesn’t just happen by accident. It is the result of hard work by dedicated community volunteers and I urge the Scottish Government to resource those communities, so they are ready to stand up to the Home Office again and again.”