An anti-immigration protest outside the Scottish Parliament triggered a counter-protest as police tried to separate the groups trading verbal blows. ‘Unite the Clans Scotland’ organised the gathering at Holyrood, urging “patriots” to assemble from across the nation. On the opposite side of police barriers stood anti-racist organisations and other left-wing protesters.

Those from the Unite the Clans demonstration waved Saltire and Union flags, chanting “send them home” as they traded heated exchanges with their opposite group. The anti-racist protesters chanted “Nazi scum” at those from the rally, whilst also playing music and displaying placards. Several dozen assembled for the anti-immigration demonstration on the parliament grounds at approximately midday, with a larger contingent of counter-protesters arriving at the building, reports the Daily Record.

There was a substantial police presence, with barriers positioned to keep the two factions separated.

Tammy McGregor, from Perth, said she was attending the Unite the Clans rally because “of the amount of women, the amount of people in general that are attacked and feel unsafe”.

She said: “We get called racist, we get called Nazi, we get called bigots.

“It’s nothing to do with somebody’s race, it’s nothing to do with where they’re from…

“We don’t have the resources, it’s as simple as that, and there is a high level of crime.”

Unite the Clans Scotland, which has organised other anti-immigration protests, had previously called on its supporters to push for “meaningful change”. Posting on social media, the group stated: “Whether driven by economic concerns, national identity, or the future direction of the country, those attending share a common goal – to demand answers to failed policies and to push for meaningful change.”

Karen Paton, who is part of the Falkirk for All anti-racism group, was amongst the counter-demonstrators.

Ms Paton said many of those under the Unite the Clans banner were brought together by demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers.

She said: “Unite the Clans are scapegoating the wrong people…

“We need to look at the real problems in this country, which is lack of affordable housing, lack of NHS, lack of dental appointments.

“They are blaming refugees for all those – those are government problems.”

Ms Paton said those at the rally were listening to “far-right politics” and “getting caught up in a movement that truly they don’t understand”.

Stand Up To Racism Scotland had earlier stated that “far-right groups have been entrenched in recent toxic hotel protests”.

The group said: “They thrive on leaking poison throughout our communities, fuelling fear, racism and Islamophobia on a daily basis.

“They are not ‘concerned citizens’.

“They are extremists with a dangerous agenda who hope to mislead local people along the way.”