Reports flooding social media, from Twitter (X) to Facebook, have ignited widespread alarm over an imminent far-right protest rally titled ‘Stop the Boats’, initially set for 10 August 2024, at George Square, Glasgow changing to 7 September 2024 under the new name of ‘Pro UK Rally’.
The swift spread of this information has triggered a surge in far-right supporter engagement, raising serious concerns about potential civil unrest. While the organisers remain unidentified, many link this rally to recent disruptive efforts in Southport by supporters and influencers of the English Defence League and other far-right groups such as Patriotic Alternative. This rally likely looks to replicate scenes with similar narratives attached attacking immigrants, multiculturalism and spin from recent misinformation campaigns.
Rally promotion on social media
The rally’s promotion has gained momentum on various social media platforms.
Craig, a Twitter (X) user, posted a promotional image for an event on 30 July 2024. Jamie, one of his followers, responded to the post:
Jamie: “Any further details about this mate? I will be there.”
Craig: “Will do mate I’m spreading the word on Facebook and Twitter.”
This exchange is just one example of the numerous interactions occurring online, where users are actively sharing information and encouraging attendance.
Another anonymous Twitter (X) user promoted the same image on the same date with the comment: “It could be your kid next. Glasgow!” The image, featuring the date and location over a photo of George Square and a Union Jack flag with the slogan “Stop the Boats,” lacks clear organisational affiliation.
On Facebook, the promotional image for the rally has been widely shared in groups such as “I Vote NO to Scottish Independence.” Tracy, a supporter of the page, promoted the event on 30 July 2024, generating hundreds of interactions and comments from participants confirming their attendance or requesting more information. Comments such as:
Anne: “yesss this is what we need I will be there!!!”
Stuart: “Will no doubt be counter-demonstrated by all the lefty loony Palestine/SNP/trans rights/black lives crew etc…..”
Agnes: “Who is organising this event? Is it the (*Glasgow) cabbie?”
Another group, “Reform UK Standing with Scotland,” also saw significant activity. Bill, a page supporter, commented on a post on the same date featuring violent imagery with the message:
Anonymous Poster: “Heartbreaking news: three little innocent victims of our government’s ‘multiculturalism’.”
Bill replied to the comment: “STOP THE BOATS SAT 10 AUG 10 AM GEORGE SQUARE GLASGOW PROTEST RALLY.” The user also posted the same images used elsewhere.
John White, previously of the Glasgow Conservatives and now with Reform UK Ltd, who has campaigned for France’s far-right Rassemblement National and engaged with Darren Grimes’ hard-right media groups, confirmed his attendance by posting on Twitter (X) on 31 July 2024: “Stand up and be counted.”
Recent tragedy weaponised
The rally comes in the wake of a horrific attack in Southport, a coastal town in northwest England. Merseyside Police confirmed on Tuesday that a nine-year-old girl had died of her injuries in hospital a day after the attack. Two other girls, aged six and seven, died during the attack on Monday. This tragedy has cast a shadow over the region, intensifying emotions and fear.
Far-right influencers, such as Joe ‘Jeff’ Marsh from Patriotic Alternative, a self-described “white nationalist”, have been reported to exploit the tragedy by spreading misinformation and falsely connecting the suspect to terror-related motives. This has heightened community tensions towards the local Muslim population. Marsh, a convicted football hooligan with a history of violence, has no connection to the local community affected.
On 31 July 2024, far-right protesters targeted a mosque in Southport, resulting in damaged police vehicles and injured officers during the clashes. Open affiliations included groups such as the English Defence League and Patriotic Alternative supporters, led by far-right influencers.
Merseyside Police stated in relation to the suspect:
“Yesterday, officers arrested a 17-year-old male from Banks, who remains in police custody. A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport. This name is incorrect, and we urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing. This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”
Historical context of far-right activities in Glasgow
The Scottish Defence League (SDL), a far-right group linked to the English Defence League (EDF), has been active in Glasgow since 2009. Their protests have consistently faced strong opposition from anti-racist and anti-fascist groups, leading to clashes requiring significant police presence. The SDL protests focus on what they describe as the “Islamification” of Scotland.
Over the years, the SDL has held several protests in Glasgow, often met with counterdemonstrations. For example, on 21 July 2018, an SDL protest in George Square saw mounted police and officers with dogs separating them from counter-demonstrators due to high tensions over the SDL’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. All activities are now constrained to online mobilising supporters.
While the Scottish Defence League is perhaps the most publicly known for extreme far-right activities, several other groups have also remained highly active and influential in similar rallies, such as the Hate Crime Bill protest at Holyrood.
A Force For Good (AFFG), a Scottish pro-Unionist campaign, and self-described think tank founded and led by Alistair McConnachie, who is known for Holocaust denial. McConnachie, previously paid by the Orange Order for social media services before the 2014 independence referendum, spoke at the extreme-right TradSoc conference in 2019.
AFFG regularly produces video content featuring far-right influencers like David Clews of Unity News Network, a conspiracy theory website; David Kurten of the minor far-right Heritage Party; and Niall Fraser of the socially conservative Scottish Family Party. The group has actively protested pro-independence marches in Glasgow and supported anti-trans demonstrations nationwide. McConnachie also founded Independent Green Voice, a small political party that fielded former British National Party (BNP) leading organisers to confuse green voters in the Glasgow region.
The Homeland Party in Scotland, founded in April 2023 by former British National Party organiser Kenny Smith, a splinter group from Patriotic Alternative. Key figures include Simon Crane, an executive member and East Calder community councillor known for extremist podcasting; Anthony Burrows, the party’s nominating officer who lost his gun license due to sharing terrorist literature; and David Gardner, linked to racist and anti-Semitic comments and protests. Despite significant opposition, the Homeland Party successfully registered with the Electoral Commission, raising concerns about the potential mainstreaming of extremist ideologies. This group has also been involved in anti-asylum seeker protests such as clashes in Erskine in 2023 and efforts to infiltrate local politics.
The Scottish Family Party (SFP), launched in 2017 by former UKIP candidate Richard Lucas, staunchly opposes same-sex marriage, gender equality legislation, and abortion. The party actively campaigns against abortion rights, posts anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ content, and opposes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The SFP also rejects hate crime legislation. The SFP has connections to the Homeland Party, with Lucas and Fraser engaging with its leading figures. Fraser previously made headlines for verbally abusing First Minister Humza Yousaf at a Fringe event. In 2023, the SFP gained media attention when Niall Fraser represented the party at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
The new shift in far-right organising
Glasgow cabbie Stef Shaw has been a prominent online influencer since 2015. While there is no clear and open direct connection to the above groups or similar influencers, he has vehemently opposed the Scottish Government’s agenda on many culture war issues linked to the right, such as trans rights, LGBT+ equality, and inclusive education policies. He has a strong British identity and, as a cab driver, has voiced concerns on local issues like the Glasgow taxi service and LEZ. Recently, however, Shaw’s narrative has taken a sharp turn towards the extreme-right, spreading disinformation about immigrants and the Southport attacks. With over 35k followers on Facebook, his reach has significantly expanded over the years.
This shift in tone and organisational capability is evident in the following post on 28 July 2024:
“I have never in my lifetime considered myself racist, religiously bigoted, or of negative mentality against those of different skin color, culture, or religion to me.”
He continues:
“How would you or I feel if we brought a stranger into our homes and made them feel comfortable and welcome, fed them, kept them clean, warm, and secure, with a few quid in their pockets, to then find out we were being used, abused, and treated with no due respect?
That’s exactly what’s happening with many foreign people living here, though if you have a disagreement or dispute with some of these people, you’re labelled a ‘racist’.”
He finishes:
“I like the fact that Glasgow is a cosmopolitan city but I detest how the needs of foreigners are often put before the needs of our very own citizens, those born and raised here. Our Governments can’t take care of our own people but continue to thrust more and more foreigners upon us!”
As someone commented on the original Facebook post in “I Vote NO to Scottish Independence,” Agnes said: “Who is organising this event? Is it the (*Glasgow) cabbie?” It looks certain to be an event organised by Glasgow Cabbie, as he further posted on his page on 29 July 2024:
“Let’s see a couple of thousand of you with your hands in the air, keen to demonstrate against any Islamic extremist groups taking over any Scottish island! Would you make the effort to be there with your Saltire and Union Flags, voicing how you feel about this once great wee country on a Saturday afternoon in August?”
The latest updated post from Glasgow Cabbie offers a collaboration with a unionist campaigner and Orange Order member promoted as Johnny McGinty to join forces and unite on a new set date of 7 September 2024. Glasgow Cabbie posted:
“10 August 2024 being CANCELLED . . . I repeat *CANCELLED* by Johnny McGinty.
Johnny and his team have now joined forces with us on the only date for our Pro-UK Rally which is as stated below, on Saturday 7th September at 1pm on George Square.”
The now-public co-organiser Johnny McGinty for the September rally is a member of the Orange Order, as openly promoted on Facebook. In West Scotland, the Order’s marches have been associated with sectarian violence, which far-right elements exploit to spread their ideologies. Online, some members have been involved in disseminating far-right propaganda, including white nationalist and xenophobic content.
For example, the Facebook page named Greater Glasgow and Wide Loyalist Events posted about a similar event to Glasgow in Middlesbrough:
“Pro British March in Middlesbrough, Sunday 4th August 2pm.”
The image promoting the above march uses the same messaging for the Glasgow rally, emphasising “distrust and fear”.
With over 500 comments, 1k likes, and 280 shares on the original post alone, this surge in engagement is alarming. The potential for chaos at an unpoliced and impromptu rally, fuelled by a far-right misinformation campaign and leveraging recent anger, is significant. Police Scotland must be contacted by event organisers to ensure proper policing and coordination, highlighting the urgent need to prevent potential unrest like recent incidents.
National political and community leaders joined in the condemnation and garnered further attention on the event as Tommy Robinson, one of the most controversial and leading far-right figures, supported the rally by posting on Twitter (X) on 31 July 2024:
“The British are rising.”
The shocking sights of unrest in Southport after a devastating tragedy are no coincidence but an organised effort to cause lasting community division. Far-right groups, influencers, and political forces will continue to use misinformation and prey on the fears of vulnerable communities to recruit, reinforce their reach, and disrupt positive efforts to bring people together. It is imperative for communities to recognise these tactics and work collectively to counteract the spread of hatred and division.
The question is:
What next for Glasgow and the reach of the far-right?
