Humza Yousaf questions family’s future in UK after violent riots | UK News

Humza Yousaf, the former first minister of Scotland, has revealed that recent days of violent riots have left him unsure whether his family has a future in the UK.

Yousaf – the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party when he became leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland in March 2023 – described the last week of unrest as “utterly horrible”.

Violent disorders occurred in cities across England and Northern Ireland following the murders of three girls in Southport last week.

The unrest was fueled by online misinformation about the attacker.

Police forces across the country are braced for more unrest, with reports of at least 30 more gatherings expected on Wednesday night.

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Speaking with The news agents podcast, Yousaf said: “I’m as Scottish as they come.

“I was born in Scotland, I grew up in Scotland, I was educated in Scotland, I just welcomed my third child here in Scotland, I was leader of the Scottish government for just over a year, leader of the Scottish National Party.

“If you open up to me, I’m as Scottish as you.

“But the truth is that I don’t know if the future for me, my wife and my three children will be here, in Scotland or in the United Kingdom, or even in Europe and the West, because I have, for a long time, some time really worried about the rise of Islamophobia.”

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Mr Yousaf, who resigned as prime minister in Maysaid the rise of the far right was “driven by Islamophobia in Europe, the UK and the West”.

He said protesters were “going after people who are black, who are Asian, who are Muslim, and this, again, goes back to some of the language that has been used far too often in our politics about people who don’t embrace our values”.

Mr Yousaf, the MSP for Glasgow Pollok said he has no idea where his family will go, adding that “Scotland is the country I love.”

He said, “I don’t want to go, let me make that clear.”

Mr Yousaf said Scotland is not immune to racism or Islamophobia, but added that the UK has a “pretty positive story to tell about multiculturalism”.

He cited his own performance as prime minister, as well as Rishi Sunak – a British Hindu prime minister, and Sadiq Khan – Muslim mayor of London.

Yousaf added: “So we actually have a strong history and heritage of multiculturalism over the years, but that is literally, in fact, in some parts of the UK, on ​​fire.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence and promised to do “whatever it takes to bring these criminals to justice.”

First Minister John Swinney met with members of Scotland’s Muslim community in Edinburgh Central Mosque earlier this week.

He called violence elsewhere in the UK “completely unacceptable” and said it would not be tolerated in Scotland.

The First Minister added: “There is no place in Scotland for hate of any kind, and each of us has a responsibility to tackle racism and religious prejudice wherever and whenever it appears.

“People will always try to divide us – and it is imperative in these times that we come together even stronger to remain defiant.”

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Police Scotland said it is providing reassurance to communities through enhanced patrols and direct engagement.

Deputy Chief Constable Gary Ritchie added: “We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.

“We are aware of a number of protests and counter-protests planned in the coming weeks, which will be policed ​​appropriately.”