SNP MSP Humza Yousaf is urging Glasgow City Council to ban a Scottish Defence League march in the city on the grounds of public safety.

The Glasgow MSP is calling on GCC to follow in the footsteps of The City of Edinburgh Council when it banned a SDL march last year.

Mr Yousaf said:

“I am a firm believer in free speech – regardless of how obscene and toxic it is.

“But it is imperative freedom of speech is not at the expense of public safety.

“I have witnessed the effects of the violent clashes down south when the English arm of the SDL was involved and wouldn’t want that replicated in Glasgow.

“Glasgow is a city which has a long history of fighting fascism.

“The SDL are entitled to meet and should do so in an enclosed area but the streets of Glasgow are – and rightly so – for the decent citizens of our city.

“Glasgow should follow in Edinburgh’s lead by banning these kinds of marches as they threaten public safety.”