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Ukip bullish about chances of breakthrough in Scotland Ukip bullish about chances of breakthrough in Scotland
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The last time Nigel Farage came to Edinburgh, he found himself unexpectedly locked inside a city centre pub by flustered and ill-prepared police officers. His lesson learnt, this time the Ukip leader was locked in a building deliberately, guarded by ranks of ex-military personnel, uniformed G4S security guards and a line of police in Day-Glo tops.The last time Nigel Farage came to Edinburgh, he found himself unexpectedly locked inside a city centre pub by flustered and ill-prepared police officers. His lesson learnt, this time the Ukip leader was locked in a building deliberately, guarded by ranks of ex-military personnel, uniformed G4S security guards and a line of police in Day-Glo tops.
As more than 300 protesters gathered outside his party's first rally in Scotland on Friday evening, at a former Edwardian-era slaughterhouse and corn market on the western fringes of the city, Farage told reporters he planned a revolution in Scottish politics.As more than 300 protesters gathered outside his party's first rally in Scotland on Friday evening, at a former Edwardian-era slaughterhouse and corn market on the western fringes of the city, Farage told reporters he planned a revolution in Scottish politics.
His Eurosceptic party is on the cusp of a breakthrough in Scotland by taking the country's sixth European seat from the Liberal Democrats, he promised; they were the new radicals, promising Scots an in-out referendum on EU membership.His Eurosceptic party is on the cusp of a breakthrough in Scotland by taking the country's sixth European seat from the Liberal Democrats, he promised; they were the new radicals, promising Scots an in-out referendum on EU membership.
"There's a clear element of the Scottish political classes which are scared of Ukip, in particular they're scared of the argument, the argument that hasn't been heard in Scottish politics," he said."There's a clear element of the Scottish political classes which are scared of Ukip, in particular they're scared of the argument, the argument that hasn't been heard in Scottish politics," he said.
"There's a fear that Ukip, if we're successful in a few weeks, will inject something new into Scottish politics.""There's a fear that Ukip, if we're successful in a few weeks, will inject something new into Scottish politics."
The contrasts between Friday's press briefing and rally at the Corn Exchange with last year's chaotic debacle outside the Canongait pub on the Royal Mile – an event almost exactly a year ago were clear on both sides.The contrasts between Friday's press briefing and rally at the Corn Exchange with last year's chaotic debacle outside the Canongait pub on the Royal Mile – an event almost exactly a year ago were clear on both sides.
Both sides were more controlled: the protesters, rallied by the Radical Independence Campaign group that helped orchestrate last May's hurriedly arranged and abusive flash mob on the Royal Mile, studiously avoided the anti-English abuse Farage was able to exploit last year.Both sides were more controlled: the protesters, rallied by the Radical Independence Campaign group that helped orchestrate last May's hurriedly arranged and abusive flash mob on the Royal Mile, studiously avoided the anti-English abuse Farage was able to exploit last year.
A wide collection of Radical Independence activists, gay and disabilities campaigners, Yes Scotland activists, senior Greens and Scottish Socialist party figures, including SSP leader Colin Fox, they stressed their anti-racist credentials.A wide collection of Radical Independence activists, gay and disabilities campaigners, Yes Scotland activists, senior Greens and Scottish Socialist party figures, including SSP leader Colin Fox, they stressed their anti-racist credentials.
"We're anti-Ukip, not anti-English" stated one handdrawn placard. They outnumbered heavily the Ukip activists and invited guests arriving for the party rally: Ukip insisted the hall was packed. Reporters counted only a few dozen guests, chiefly white, middle aged and older men."We're anti-Ukip, not anti-English" stated one handdrawn placard. They outnumbered heavily the Ukip activists and invited guests arriving for the party rally: Ukip insisted the hall was packed. Reporters counted only a few dozen guests, chiefly white, middle aged and older men.
The only confrontations came when one small group of men, gathered some distance away, were challenged and accused of being fascist activists; "Nazi scum off our streets" came the chant, as they were chased under police protection into a nearby cul-de-sac.The only confrontations came when one small group of men, gathered some distance away, were challenged and accused of being fascist activists; "Nazi scum off our streets" came the chant, as they were chased under police protection into a nearby cul-de-sac.
About 100 protesters stayed outside throughout the rally, chanting "Nigel, Nigel, gies a wave" and "Say it loud, say it clear, Ukip are not welcome here". As the Ukip members left the rally, the protesters booed and shouted "Racist scum off our streets" and "shame on you".
In a more carnival atmosphere with a piper and canned music including Gil Scott Heron blasting from a portable speaker, Maggie Chapman, the Scottish Green party candidate whom Farage insists will be beaten by Ukip to the sixth Scottish European parliament seat, said she represented "positive politics".In a more carnival atmosphere with a piper and canned music including Gil Scott Heron blasting from a portable speaker, Maggie Chapman, the Scottish Green party candidate whom Farage insists will be beaten by Ukip to the sixth Scottish European parliament seat, said she represented "positive politics".
"We're very, very clear our message for the European elections is a politics of hope, not a politics of fear or hate. It's entirely different to their division, fear, hatred, the racism and xenophobia. Even if Ukip doesn't have it written down any where, it comes very, very clear from the rhetoric and their party's position.""We're very, very clear our message for the European elections is a politics of hope, not a politics of fear or hate. It's entirely different to their division, fear, hatred, the racism and xenophobia. Even if Ukip doesn't have it written down any where, it comes very, very clear from the rhetoric and their party's position."
Alex Salmond, the first minister and Scottish National party leader, issued a statement appearing to distance himself from the demonstration. Last year, he had disparaged Farage's complaints about the protests, accusing him of living in a "bubble".Alex Salmond, the first minister and Scottish National party leader, issued a statement appearing to distance himself from the demonstration. Last year, he had disparaged Farage's complaints about the protests, accusing him of living in a "bubble".
On Friday, Salmond said: "Nigel Farage and his party will not be defeated by demonstrations, which only give him the chance to play the victim, but by being humiliated at the ballot box – as they have been many times before in Scotland."On Friday, Salmond said: "Nigel Farage and his party will not be defeated by demonstrations, which only give him the chance to play the victim, but by being humiliated at the ballot box – as they have been many times before in Scotland."
Inside the Corn Exchange, as the increasingly impatient media were slowly allowed in to see Farage in small groups past the muscled, tanned close protection men with earpiece wires spiralling out of their ears, Farage dismissed Chapman's attack.Inside the Corn Exchange, as the increasingly impatient media were slowly allowed in to see Farage in small groups past the muscled, tanned close protection men with earpiece wires spiralling out of their ears, Farage dismissed Chapman's attack.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong, and completely unjustifiable" he said. Ukip had numerous "black and ethnic candidates" he said. The accusations of racism and homophobia could be pinned on "a few idiots [from Ukip] on Facebook making moronic and idiotic comments"."Wrong, wrong, wrong, and completely unjustifiable" he said. Ukip had numerous "black and ethnic candidates" he said. The accusations of racism and homophobia could be pinned on "a few idiots [from Ukip] on Facebook making moronic and idiotic comments".
Ukip, which has purged unphotogenic Scottish activists such as the climate change denier Lord Monckton from its ranks, is confident of its chances on 22 May.Ukip, which has purged unphotogenic Scottish activists such as the climate change denier Lord Monckton from its ranks, is confident of its chances on 22 May.
Monckton and his five allies were "well meaning chaps who are ill-fashioned and quite frankly not up to the cut and thrust of modern politics," said David Coburn, Ukip's lead candidate in the 22 May election and former London regional chairman.Monckton and his five allies were "well meaning chaps who are ill-fashioned and quite frankly not up to the cut and thrust of modern politics," said David Coburn, Ukip's lead candidate in the 22 May election and former London regional chairman.
One recent YouGov poll put their Scottish support at 10% - theoretically enough to take the sixth seat; others put it at lower. But that is near double their vote in 2009, when Ukip took a marginal 5.2% of the vote and higher than their best European result in Scotland, 6.7% of the vote in 2004.One recent YouGov poll put their Scottish support at 10% - theoretically enough to take the sixth seat; others put it at lower. But that is near double their vote in 2009, when Ukip took a marginal 5.2% of the vote and higher than their best European result in Scotland, 6.7% of the vote in 2004.
Pointing to other polls showing a large minority of Scots want the EU's powers cut or the UK to leave, Farage said the belief that Scots were universally more supportive of the EU than the English is wrong: "while there's a gap between the two [countries], it's not that big."Pointing to other polls showing a large minority of Scots want the EU's powers cut or the UK to leave, Farage said the belief that Scots were universally more supportive of the EU than the English is wrong: "while there's a gap between the two [countries], it's not that big."
Farage acknowledged that he admired Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party leader, for his political skills. But they were not the same, he said. Farage said he was no nationalist, but a "nation-ist" who wanted to return Europe to a continent of independent nation states.Farage acknowledged that he admired Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party leader, for his political skills. But they were not the same, he said. Farage said he was no nationalist, but a "nation-ist" who wanted to return Europe to a continent of independent nation states.
But any thought that an independent Scotland would be barred from EU membership, were laughable. José Manuel Barroso, the outgoing European Commission president, had made those claims "as a favour to David Cameron", Farrage said. Compared to the corrupt former Communist states easily admitted to the EU, Scotland was a beacon of light. "They've let in Romania. They're hardly going to reject Scotland, for goodness sake."But any thought that an independent Scotland would be barred from EU membership, were laughable. José Manuel Barroso, the outgoing European Commission president, had made those claims "as a favour to David Cameron", Farrage said. Compared to the corrupt former Communist states easily admitted to the EU, Scotland was a beacon of light. "They've let in Romania. They're hardly going to reject Scotland, for goodness sake."