A FAR-RIGHT rally attended by a Reform councillor, a known neonazi, and a leading member of Glasgow Friends of Israel was seen off by more than 2,000 counter-protesters on Saturday.

The rally, organised by convicted domestic abuser John Watt, was due to take place at 1pm on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street steps, but a police cordon forced the rabble, which peaked at 200, on to the main precinct.

Glasgow Shettleston councillor Thomas Kerr, who earlier this year defected from the Tories to Reform, Edinburgh-based neonazi Ralph Millar, Sammy Stein of Glasgow Friends of Israel, a Donald Trump impersonator, and far-right activists travelling from as far afield as Dundee and Aberdeen were all seen on the anti-migrant demonstration. 

Fresh from mingling among “stop the boats” and “send them home” placards at the rally fronted by a giant “RIP Charlie Kirk” banner and awash with union flags, saltires, and US and Israeli flags purchased from an enterprising street vendor, Councillor Thomas Kerr insisted he had seen no racism. 

He told Channel Four News he was “absolutely buzzing,” and saying: “This is what democracy is all about.”

For around four hours more, abuse and bottles were hurled across police lines, at the more than 2,000 counter-protesters organised through Stand Up to Racism and supported by Glasgow Trades Union Council, there to meet them, trade union banners and anti-racist placards held aloft.

As numbers on the far-right demonstration collapsed and infighting began, police moved in, leading to scuffles and one individual, who had been among the most frustrated and vocal throughout the demonstration, being arrested in connection with the assault of a police officer.

The five-hour stand-off came as the month-long stand-off at a Falkirk hotel housing people seeking asylum continues, and emboldened far-right activity in Clydebank, both being faced down with co-ordinated action from local trades councils.

Unite Community West of Scotland chairman Keith Stoddart told the Star: “It was good that today, despite differences across the labour movement, anti-racists and ordinary trade unionists from across the city answered the call and came together in common purpose.

“It’s broad fronts like that that are needed if we are going to defeat the anti-working class ultra-right, who offer working people simplistic answers but no solutions to the real challenges our communities face.”