Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nicola Sturgeon calls ex-Britain First deputy leader ‘racist’ in tense confrontation

Jadya Fransen accuses first minister of promoting ‘mass immigration’ and ‘Marxism’ in clip shared online

Chiara Giordano
Friday 07 May 2021 08:27 BST
Comments
Far-right campaigner called 'racist' by Nicola Sturgeon in her own video stunt

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Nicola Sturgeon called the former Britain First deputy leader a “racist” and “fascist” after being confronted by her on the streets of Glasgow.

Jayda Fransen, who is standing as an independent in Glasgow Southside, the same constituency contested by Ms Sturgeon, confronted the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader outside what appeared to be a polling station, footage posted online showed.

Fransen, who has convictions for religiously-aggravated harassment, accused the first minister of being an “absolute disgrace” for “flooding the country” with immigrants.

She can be heard saying: “What are you sorry for? Mass immigration, Marxism? I'm not a fascist. I've been on the ground speaking to locals who say you are an absolute disgrace...”

Ms Sturgeon responds: “We'll see what the locals' view is later on.”

Fransen says: "The locals, what, the ones you have flooded from other countries?

“The decent people of Scotland don't want it flooded with immigrants.”

Ms Sturgeon tells her: “You are a fascist, you are a racist and the southside of Glasgow will reject you.”

The first minister then walks away with party members as Fransen pursues her, talking about “mass immigration” and “Marxism”.

Fransen later tells an SNP supporter who asks her who she is: “I'm not fascist, just a normal, decent unionist patriot. My grandfather fought the Nazis.”

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon and candidate Roza Salih walk near Annette Street School polling station in Glasgow
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon and candidate Roza Salih walk near Annette Street School polling station in Glasgow (Jeff J Mitchell/Pool/Reuters)

In a piece to camera uploaded by the British Freedom Party, she accuses Ms Sturgeon of “running away like a coward”, adding: “Of course if you flood a constituency with foreigners and hardline republicans who absolutely hate Britain, hate the union, they are going to secure their votes.

“The unionist community are no longer unrepresented and we are coming for you.”

Jayda Fransen, former deputy leader of Britain First
Jayda Fransen, former deputy leader of Britain First (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The first minister later shared footage of the incident on Twitter.

“Glasgow Southside is the most diverse and multi-cultural constituency in Scotland - one of the many things that makes it so brilliant. I am confident it will unite today to utterly reject these fascists,” she wrote.

Fransen has previously been pictured outside the constituency office of justice secretary Humza Yousaf holding a sign saying “it's okay to be white” and has said she is running against the “SNP commie, Marxists, naughty people”.

She has previously been convicted of a number of religiously-aggravated crimes, including harassment in both 2016 and 2018 – the latter of which saw her sentenced to 36 weeks in prison.

Although a member of the British Freedom Party, documents from Glasgow City Council show Fransen is running as an independent.

Additional reporting by PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in