From Pollokshields to Falkirk: How Anti-Migrant Protests Are Reshaping Scotland’s Election

Scotland has long sold itself as uniquely welcoming to migrants—a country where locals once surrounded a Home Office van to demand the release of two Indian men in Pollokshields. But the rise of Reform UK Scotland elections anti-migrant protests Falkirk tells a different story. The Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk now sees protesters chanting “Send them home,” while saltires raised on lampposts signal a shift toward blood-and-soil nationalism . As May 2026 elections approach, Scotland confronts an uncomfortable question: Is the country as immune to anti-immigration politics as it once believed?

How are anti-migrant protests changing Scotland’s self-image?

The “Glasgow Girls” who campaigned against a classmate’s deportation and Pollokshields residents who chanted “These are our neighbours, let them go” became symbols of Scottish moral superiority. But in Falkirk, the chant has become “Send them home” . As The Guardian’s Dani Garavelli writes, the Falkirk protests are a “photo negative” of this resistance. The saltire, previously not associated with anti-immigration sentiment in Scotland, has been co-opted by the “Raise the Colours” campaign. This cultural shift represents one of the most significant changes in modern Scottish political identity.

Why is Reform UK gaining support in Scotland despite Farage’s unpopularity?

Seventy percent of Scots still view Nigel Farage unfavourably . Yet Reform UK is polling in second place. The paradox is explained by two factors: First, Reform attracts anti-independence voters fragmenting from the Conservatives and Labour, not SNP supporters . Second, the party has successfully established itself as “the most credible vehicle for socially conservative immigration attitudes” in Scotland, according to University of Edinburgh lecturer Fraser McMillan . Voters may dislike Farage personally but support his message on migration.

What is the impact of immigration on Scotland’s economy and housing?

Scotland faces a demographic crisis. The country needs immigration to bolster its working-age population and fund health and social care. An Improvement Service report projects the problem is more acute in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK due to lower birthrates . However, housing pressures are real: Glasgow City Council had a £66 million overspend on homelessness, partly driven by refugees granted leave to remain who then travel to Scotland . Both things can be true simultaneously—Scotland needs immigrants and must manage housing shortages.

Is Reform UK’s rise fragmenting the unionist vote?

Yes. Pollster John Curtice told AFP that Reform’s rise is fragmenting the anti-independence vote while the SNP loses “virtually nothing” to the party . SNP supporters tend to be pro-EU and back independence, making them resistant to Farage’s Brexit-championing, unionist message. This means Reform could win seats without damaging the SNP’s dominance—a scenario that paradoxically strengthens the pro-independence government while amplifying anti-immigration voices in Holyrood. For unionism as a whole, it is a damaging split.

What are the roots of the Falkirk protests?

The Southport knife attack in July 2024 triggered a wave of protests against asylum accommodation across the UK . By 2025, far-right activists joined local residents in Falkirk and elsewhere, spreading anti-migrant messages both offline and online. However, local economic struggles predate this moment. Falkirk faced decline after industrial closures, and the 2025 shutdown of Scotland’s last refinery at Grangemouth removed thousands of jobs. When an asylum seeker housed at the Cladhan Hotel was convicted of rape, tensions exploded . While predators exist in every ethnicity, the concentration of foreign males in a community with little diversity created resentment that bad-faith actors have exploited.

How are Scottish leaders responding to Reform’s rise?

First Minister John Swinney walks a tightrope. He calls Farage’s message “racist” but acknowledges that voters have “legitimate points” about pressure on services. He told The Guardian he accepts some “will be attracted by the absolutely core prejudicial message” . Meanwhile, Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has called Reform “the very worst of politics” and will join the Falkirk Unity march . Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has tried to distance himself from Keir Starmer’s unpopularity by calling for a change in Number 10. None have found a formula to stop Reform’s advance.

This election is on a knife edge.

Tomorrow, wherever you live in Scotland, use your peach ballot paper to vote for the Scottish Conservatives to stop an SNP majority 🍑🗳️🔵 pic.twitter.com/VmWVd2E2xw

— Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) May 6, 2026

FAQs

Q1: Why are anti-migrant protests happening in Scotland?
Protests began escalating after the July 2024 Southport knife attack and spread to Falkirk, East Kilbride, Perth, Aberdeen, and Inverness. Economic anxiety following the Grangemouth refinery closure has fuelled resentment .

Q2: How does Reform UK differ from the SNP on immigration?
The SNP supports immigration to address Scotland’s ageing population and shrinking workforce. Reform UK campaigns to “stop the boats,” deport irregular migrants, and significantly reduce overall immigration levels .

Q3: What is happening with asylum seeker accommodation in Scotland?
The Home Office places asylum seekers in hotels and former barracks, including the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk and Cameron Barracks in Inverness. Once granted leave to remain, responsibility shifts to Scottish local authorities .

Q4: Can Reform UK win the 2026 Scottish election?
No. The SNP is expected to remain the largest party. However, Reform could become the main opposition party, winning seats in the high teens through the proportional representation system .

Q5: What is the ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign?
It is a campaign raising saltire flags on lampposts across Scotland, which critics say co-opts the Scottish national flag as a symbol of anti-immigration sentiment.