Many Glaswegians remember Govanhill in the Southside of Glasgow with fond memories; I certainly do, as my time at Holyrood Secondary School made the area feel like a second home. It’s also where I kicked off my political journey campaigning in both the 2010 General Election and the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections for Scottish Labour. Others might not share this fondness, influenced by negative news headlines that distort public perception. However, those close to the area know there is much more to it than the bad press suggests. Govanhill is renowned for its cultural diversity, strong community spirit, and emerging vibrant arts scene. Initiatives like the annual Govanhill International Festival and the preservation of Govanhill Baths showcase local dedication to positive change. The neighbourhood’s diverse mix of new and old residents and new upstart businesses further adds to its appeal.
Govanhill is often a popular political topic due to its diverse population, including many Roma and other ethnic minorities, making it a focal point in immigration debates. Problems like poor housing, crime, and social tensions are frequently highlighted, overshadowing the positive community efforts and developments. Issues with overcrowding and poor public services are used to portray Govanhill as one of Glasgow’s most troubled areas, even surpassing previously known areas like Easterhouse or the nearby Gorbals in discussions about inner-city decline across Scotland.
The SNP and Govanhill: targets for extremism campaigns
Govanhill lies firmly in the backyard of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP and falls under the SNP-led Glasgow City Council’s watch. It has always been scrutinised by political opposition to the SNP, addressing legitimate pressing concerns such as Govanhill’s high rate of child poverty, which is among the highest in the UK, with more than 88% children under the age of 15 facing deprivation. However, it also attracts the attention of anti-independence campaign groups and individuals who focus on disinformation rather than highlighting these issues, aiming to exploit the area due to its high-profile elected representatives.
Given this climate of fear and division, it is crucial to critically examine the groups and individuals exploiting Govanhill for their own political agendas.
Cheap publicity for A Force For Good
In 2017, ‘missing’ posters of Nicola Sturgeon portraying the area as abandoned and ignored without representation with the caption “If found please return to day job” appeared in Govanhill as a PR stunt by A Force For Good (AFFG), labelled a “radical right” group by Hope Not Hate. AFFG, is a Scottish pro-unionist, self-proclaimed think tank led by Alistair McConnachie. McConnachie is a former UKIP organiser who was expelled for Holocaust denial. He produces video content with noted far-right extremist guests like David Kurten and Niall Fraser, protesting pro-independence and anti-LGBT events. McConnachie also founded Independent Green Voice, which was accused of confusing voters in 2021.
Blair McDougall, former Better Together Campaign Director, said, “None of us are responsible for the actions of others, we are only responsible for the organisations we are members of and our own behaviour as individuals. We can all make sure that whenever we come across AFFG online or offline we challenge them.”
Provocative attacks by The Majority
Mark Devlin, co-founder of The Majority, transitioned from entertainment to political activism with controversial tactics. His group is known for extreme anti-independence campaigns, including inflammatory photoshopped images of Nicola Sturgeon with captions like “Vogue – Nicola! Queen of the Trash!” in 2022 and “Nicola takes a selfie in front of life work!” in 2023, exploiting issues in Govanhill with matching imagery.
Devlin faces criticism for his divisive rhetoric, lack of political experience, financial transparency issues, and polarising public opinion with extreme stances, including a campaign to abolish the Scottish Parliament. He shares platforms on social media with Alistair McConnachie and collaborates with Niall Fraser for podcasts, featuring controversial guests like Professor Jill Stephenson and David Griffiths. Stephenson referred to SNP MP Mhairi Black using highly derogatory and sexualised comments while Griffiths, a former candidate for George Galloway’s new party, linked to a Twitter page referring to Catholics in a sectarian manner; “arriers” and “taigs.”
Drug zone misinformation
Recently, posters falsely labelling Govanhill as a “crack and heroin zone” were investigated for mimicking official council branding. Spotted on Victoria Road, the signs falsely claimed, “Use of crack and heroin is permitted in this area,” featuring Glasgow City Council logos. The council has removed the majority of the posters. In 2023, similar tactics were used in Manchester and Leeds with comparable messaging. No group has claimed responsibility for these disinformation campaigns to date.
The posters aimed to exploit fears about SNP drug policies, such as drug consumption room policies, which have been controversial in the city. As a local resident of Govanhill,David Cardwell, known for anti-SNP videos, promoted the posters in a video within Facebook groups that quickly spread on Twitter via users like AgentP whose reach made it more accessible to a wider audience to share.
Gorbals Police Station stated, “We are aware of these posters in the Govanhill area. We will review CCTV to identify those responsible.”
Common links with provocative attacks
From AFFG to The Majority using provocative attacks on elected representatives and issues in Govanhill, to the recent disinformation poster campaign, all link back to a popular unionist Facebook group, United Against Separation (UAS). On UAS, Alistair McConnachie cultivates membership and boosts posts to recruit; and even to fundraise. Mark Devlin hosts his weekly podcast, with controversial guests as mentioned and David Cardwell promotes his videos for others to appreciate and share within their own network.
Ensuring accountability
Govanhill, a vibrant and diverse community, is a hotbed of political extremism, with radicals exploiting local issues and targeting representatives. As we approach the general election, it is crucial for voters to critically assess the information presented to them and demand higher standards of integrity and responsibility from all political participants in any form.
What may seem like simply outdated posters or memes, can now escalate to rather dangerous disinformation campaigns. These actions show the extreme lengths some individuals and groups will go to spread negativity and fear during such a fragile time for democracy.
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